Competing Paradigms in the Assessment of Latent Disorders: The Case of Agent Orange

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Abstract
The use of the herbicide Agent Orange in Vietnam has sparked controversy and heated debate. The controversy revolves around the individuals and interest groups who advance and oppose the claim that exposure to the herbicide has caused high rates of cancer among Vietnam veterans and birth defects in their children. In this paper, I identify the protagonists, explore the claims-making activity, and review the varieties of evidence put forth in the case. The case serves as a useful vehicle for illustrating the politics of facts and certification.