|
Silent Spring was a book written by Rachel
Carson and published in 1962, about the detrimental effect pesticides were having on the environment, and especially on birds.
The book was widely read and drew public attention to this problem. It was part of the impetus for the banning of the
pesticide DDT in the United States. As described in detail in the article on its author, the
book was controversial at the time of its publication. It
attracted hostile attention from commentators associated with the chemical industry.
The criticism of the book most commonly cited today is that its suggestion that the increase in the proportion of
deaths in childhood caused by cancer (as a consequence of an increase in the background
level of carcinogens) was culpably misleading in ignoring the contribution to
the absolute reduction of the childhood death rate of immunization
and antibiotics.
See also: Bioaccumulation
|