The Impact Of Rachel Carson’s Book Silent Spring On The American Society

The debt from World War I overproduction caused a depression among farmers in the United States during the 1920s. The Great Depression decimated the economy of the United States and caused a depression that lasted into the 1930s. World War II ended the depression when agriculture became an important source for war supplies. It is during this time – in 1939 – that Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or DDT was found to be an effective pesticide in preventing insect borne diseases and crop damage. The use of DDT spread quickly for many decades, until the environmental effects were discovered. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, published in 1962, was largely responsible for bringing this information to light. Silent Spring’s impact on the US environmental movement is still being debated 55 years after its publication. Silent Spring is often credited with causing Americans to be concerned about pesticide use, particularly DDT. Silent Spring also contributed to the introduction of the environmental movement in America, by encouraging policy reforms surrounding human interactions with nature.

Pesticides have been used by farmers to increase plant growth since the beginning of time. They fall into four categories: herbicides (herbicides), fungicides (fungicides), and rodenticides. In the US, pesticide use exploded after DDT was found to be an effective insecticide in1939. DDT first was synthesized in the year 1873. However, it was not used as a pesticide for 70 years. This is when Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller realised that DDT could be a powerful insecticide. In 1945, DDT was sold in the United States.

By 1957, DDT had been sprayed annually on 4.9 millions acres. No one knew that it could cause harm. DDT was used by American families to spray in their homes. Children ran after the machines that sprayed it on the streets. DDT began as a way to eliminate gypsy bugs, but it quickly became popular for a wide range of uses. During World War II it was very popular for ridding soldiers of lice. DDT’s powder form has been credited for saving thousands of lives against typhus. Its popularity was such that during the 30 years it was produced, America used 1,350,000,000 pounds. DDT was also exported to other countries, mainly to Africa, to fight malaria. The United Nations and Agency for International Development purchased large quantities of DDT in order to combat insect-borne diseases. Exports increased from 12% by 1950 to 67% in 1970. Pesticides were initially viewed as a positive thing, but soon the reverse happened.

In 1962, when Rachel Carson released Silent Spring, the implications were immediately in the spotlight. The book was read by 500,000 people and an additional 10-15 million watched the CBS broadcast in which Carson explained its significance and relationship to society. The first section, A Fable for Tomorrow, is about a typical American town, except that pesticides killed everyone and all the animals. Carson acknowledges pesticide effects might not appear for several generations. However, she stresses the threat. Silent Spring is named after the town in the book. This quiet world also has a powerful pathos because it makes readers imagine their children and themselves growing up. Carson describes pesticide spraying, which she calls a “chain-of-evil”, as poisoning other organisms who eat those plants or eat infected insects. She believed that human-made chemicals and radioactivity were interfering with nature and could lead to deadly consequences. Evidence suggested that little testing had been carried out to uncover the true effects DDT on the environment in spite of the claims of the Stauffer Chemical Company.

Silent Spring has received widespread criticism because it is a one-sided book. Critics claimed Carson had ignored the benefits associated with DDT and other pesticides. Manufacturing Chemists’ Association has called the whole affair a “disappointment”, claiming that Carson is misrepresenting its industry.

Carson stated in 1963 that the Earth’s air, soil, waters, and vegetation are affected by pesticides and it is our duty as humans to protect these. She acknowledged the benefits of pesticides for humans but warned against their overuse. By then, numerous studies had been conducted that demonstrated the harmful effects of DDT. More people began to speak out in favor of environmental protection. In Greece, in 1949, DDT-resistant insects were discovered three years after the spraying began. In 1956 only five species of insect were resistant. By the year 1960, this number was 28.

Congress began to implement a plan in response the growing public concerns about DDT. In 1967, the 4.9 million acres that were sprayed decreased to just over 100,000 acres and in 1968, they reached zero acres. Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency to continue pesticide regulation. The EPA tested common pesticides in America and began its work to protect the natural beauty of the country. Earth Day is an annual event that was started in 1970. It has been supported by 20,000,000 people since its inception. In 1972, DDT exports and production were completely banned in the US because of concerns over its environmental impact.

After this ban, there was more controversy. Many people blamed Carson’s book Silent Spring and the deaths of millions African children caused by malaria. DDT exports from the United States caused an increase of insect-borne illnesses, resulting in up to 300 million illnesses per year, and 1,000,000 deaths. There were counterarguments that pesticides poisoned millions of species and over a thousand people per year. These claims were supported by new evidence that showed a link between pesticide use and acute toxicity, or damage to the nervous system. Pesticides were also found in the cord blood of newborns. Environmentalists attributed the high infant mortality rates to DDT during its use. In 1980, after the EPA discovered toxic dumps of chemical companies, pesticides were viewed in a negative light.

In order to reduce the use and production of persistent organic pollutants, 151 countries (excluding the United States) signed the Stockholm Convention. The only DDT producer in the world is Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. from India (MacGillivray (2011), 116). About 10,000 tons are produced each year for export and domestic use. Although there are efforts to limit pesticides, in the US there are still over 17,000 registered pesticides and 834 million pounds of pesticides released annually. US households spend an average of $11 billion per year on pesticides. A 2003 study conducted in the United Kingdom found that 99% adults had traces of DDT in their body and that 192 pesticides were used on 46 types of fruits and vegetables. Many consumers began looking for alternatives to pesticides.

This method of farming is less efficient than farming with chemicals. The losses from pests and insect damage can reach up to 40%, so organic food cannot sustain an entire country. Recent scientific advancements have enabled the creation of genetically engineered organisms (GMOs). Scientists can alter organisms’ DNA to promote resistance to pests, but some people find this unethical. The US population is growing and will require more food to sustain itself.

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was a major social event when it first appeared in 1962. It sparked a global debate on pesticides, and also led to major changes in American policy in response the the growing environmental movement. Silent Spring changed the way Americans viewed DDT but it didn’t stop the growth of pesticides. Pesticides are still a topic of controversy, even today. New positive and harmful effects continue to be explored.

Bibliography

Primary sources:

Carson, Rachel. Rachel Carson. June 4th, 1963. http://rachelcarsoncouncil.org/about/about-rachel-carson/rachel-resources/rachel-carsons-statement-before-congress-1963.

Carson, Rachel. Silent spring. Houghton Mifflin Publishing released a book about New York City in 1962. “DDT Regulatory history: A brief survey (to 1975). EPA.” On the fourteenth of September in the year 2016. Accessed May 28, 2017. https://archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/ddt-regulatory-history-brief-survey-1975.html.

Lee, John. It’s now noisy summer. The New York Times. The 22nd of July, 1962. Pages 1 and 11.

Secondary sources:

MacGillivray, Alex. Words That Changed The World: Rachel Carson Silent Spring. Rosen Publishing released a publication about New York City in 2011.

Landau, Jennifer. Incredibly disgusting environments: pesticides and your body. Rosen Publishing released a book about New York City in 2013.