A former French-Vietnamese journalist is suing chemical giants for their roles in the production of Agent Orange, a powerful herbicide weaponised by the American army during the Vietnam War.
The harmful chemical compound containing dioxin was sprayed over jungles in Vietnam to clear vegetation and reduce Vietnamese Communist fighters’ food supplies.
Four generations on, many in Vietnam are still grappling with cancer diagnoses and genetic malformations linked to the defoliant.
Tran To Nga, now 79, has multiple health issues - including liver failure. She is currently seeking damages from chemical companies due to her exposure of Agent Orange during the Vietnam war.
So far only military veterans from the US and other countries involved in the war have received compensation. 
Tran To Nga and her supporters protest. Source: Dateline
A multigenerational legacy
As a young woman, Nga enrolled as a messenger with the communist Viet Cong guerrilla movement. They were engaged in a long and bitter war for independence against the United States and South Vietnam that would last until 1975.
During the battle, the US military dropped over 40 million litres of Agent Orange over the country.
“We drank this water; we ate the vegetables that grew in the area. So we ate and drank poison,” Nga said.
But the ill effects of the herbicide didn’t end with her. Her daughter, born two years later, died in infancy from a heart malformation.
Her two children later developed several debilitating diseases which are among those formally recognised as potential effects of the chemicals.
“But [the diagnoses] also took a great weight off my shoulders because I now know that what killed my child and gave my children and grandchildren incurable diseases was not me, it was dioxin.”
"I will devote my last strength to win this… for justice to be done for dioxin victims not only in Vietnam, but for the American victims too. And that makes me even stronger. "
Tran To Nga visits people impacted by Agent Orange. Source: Dateline
What is dioxin and TCDD?
Dioxins are a group of chemical compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants.
The most toxic is TCDD, commonly just referred to as dioxin, and is the main contaminant in Agent Orange.
The pollutant has been linked to cancers, diabetes, birth defects and other disabilities.
It is also passed on through the food chain and enduringly poisons the soil.
Tran To Nga and her daughter, who died from heart malformation. Source: Dateline
US military scientist Dr James Clary was one of the first sent to Vietnam to examine Agent Orange’s impact, 10 years into the military’s program in 1971.
“My report indicated that there were some real problems developing from people exposed to Agent Orange,” he said.
“Their watersheds are contaminated, their rice fields are contaminated, their wells are contaminated.”
According to Dr Clary, the US Military at the time told him not to worry about it. He claims the report was classified top secret and subsequently buried for 35 years.
The US military spraying Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Source: Dateline
A race against time
For Nga, her cancer diagnosis was proof that her struggles were set in motion by Agent Orange.
“When I was informed that traces of dioxin exist in my blood, that could help me pursue the lawsuit,” she said.
“We are already at the fourth generation of victims. So there are millions of victims in Vietnam that we have to take care of.”
Tran To Nga’s action in the French courts is expected to be a long campaign, and whatever the eventual ruling, both sides are likely to appeal.
But for Nga, time may be running out.
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