In total, over 58,000 Americans died, and over 150,000 were wounded in battle. Many who fought in the war suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, drug and alcohol addictions upon returning home to the United States and thousands committed suicide. In addition to this, veterans were exposed to harmful chemicals and herbicides while fighting the war, particularly Agent Orange, used by the United States to clear plants from areas that might have provided cover for the enemy. This exposure caused many long-term problems and effects for veterans and their families, including cancer, disabilities, and defects of the immune and nervous system. These malformations and defects were also inherited by some of the children of veterans, so is still an ongoing issue.