|
| Rachel Carson |
|
| Rachel Carson |
The book documented detrimental effects of pesticides on the environment, particularly on birds. Carson said that DDT had
been found to cause thinner egg shells and result in reproductive problems and death. The book inspired widespread public
concerns with pesticides and pollution of the environment: she was labeled as hysterical and extremist by the chemical industry
but their attempts to discredit her by challenging her credibility as a scientist backfired. She gained publicity at very
fast rate.
Why The Book Worked:
It incorporated real-world examples of how pesticides were negatively impacting the environment. It also explained how
pesticides sometimes kill many other forms of life which are not targeted: decline in young salmon populations after DDT spraying
was performed in the area to protect the balsam forests from the spruce budworm.
Carson said very little medical research has been conducted to determine what effects these chemicals may have on humans
and also declared that there are viable alternatives to controlling insects and other pests without the use of chemical pesticides.
The pesticides not only attacked the integrity of the chemical industry, but also challenged the credibility of the government
-> more publicity.
Effects of Book:
Rachel Carson clearly stated that she was NOT advocating the banning or complete withdrawal of helpful pesticides, but
was instead encouraging responsible and carefully managed use. In 1972, Silent Spring successfully facilitated the ban of
the pesticide DDT in the United States.
Conclusion:
Silent Spring helped to expose the hazards of chemical pesticide use and draw public attention to environmental issues
that had never really been addressed before. Many said that, "Silent Spring could do for the control of chemical pollution
of our environment what Upton Sinclair's The Jungle did for the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906."
| Rachel Carson |
|
| A Great Researcher |
Legacy:
The legacy of Rachel Carson is often celebrated and her admirers will forever remember what she did when she was alive.
The book pointed out the problems of pesticides and simply advised everyone to use the pesticides with extra caution and security.
Given the state of the science at the time she wrote, one might make the case that Carson's concerns about the effects of
synthetic chemicals on human health were not completely unwarranted. After four decades in which tens of billions of dollars
have been spent chasing imaginary risks without measurably improving American health, she has finally made aware the cons
of pesticide use and how its effects can be very radical.
|
