Japan finds traces of US herbicides on Okinawa

The Okinawa Defense Bureau of the Ministry of Defense said the testing proves the barrels contained some type of herbicide, but the bureau stopped short of saying it was Agent Orange because only two of three chemical markers of the defoliant were found at the site. The drums appeared to have been buried empty, meaning it is likely the contents had been used, according to the bureau.

The discovery adds to growing fears among Okinawans that the military once used and stored the dangerous defoliants at its many bases on the island. Recently, some American veterans have publicly claimed to have sprayed and come into contact with the defoliants during deployments here decades ago.

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