Defoliant

Defoliants are herbicides that result in plants for the rapid falling of the leaves. Through their use, the crop can be facilitated in some crops. Militarily, they were used during the Vietnam War for defoliating trees to take the enemy cover. In addition, defoliants were used to cut through the damage to plant the enemy 's supply lines with food. This led to environmental and health to a large extent.

For use in agriculture

Defoliants among others before harvest of cotton, soy beans or tomatoes. Have been developed or are S, S, S- Tributyltrithiophosphat (DEF ) Tributyltrithiophosphit ( Merphos ), sodium chlorate, Magnesiumchlorat, calcium cyanamide, Natriumpolyborate as disodium, dimethylarsinic acid ( cacodylic acid ), dimethipin, diquat and paraquat used.

Military defoliants used

From the American forces many thousands of tons were used in defoliant during the Vietnam War. Some of the herbicides used with 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzodioxin were contaminated (TCDD ), a teratogenic ( deformities in embryos triggering ) and carcinogenic (cancer-causing ) the active substance.

* Use of 50,312 l documented, delivered more 413 852 l, remain unclear; shipped **