I would add to the answers above that because Carson's
work eventually led to an almost complete global banof DDT's use, we are still effected
by it today. While Silent Spring
obviously brought attention to environmental issues, it also
demonstrates how powerful environmental agencies can become. For example, because DDT
is banned, the U.S. which sends a tremendous amount of aid to African each year to try
to prevent malaria cannot encourage or provide funding for the use of DDT sprays which
are far more effective at preventing malaria than the flimsy nets that we offer
impoverished Africans instead. Since Carson's book was first published, several studies
have shown that far more people die of malaria than from DDT-related issues (in fact, it
has been difficult to prove that any die from DDT).
In the
midst of today's plethora of environmental books and articles, Carson's Spring
is still undeniably pivotal; unfortunately, it seems that many authors get
away with presenting junk science which can actually end up harming more humans than
their habitats.
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