the positive:
Carson's novel helped open up questions as to the negative impacts that industry has on the environment, with specific regards to DDT, which is the most potent pesticide in the world. Through extensive research, she exposed the dangers of DDT on nature, and the threats it posed. The reason it is so dangerous is that, unlike other pesticides, it has the capability of killing hundreds of different kinds of bugs at the same time, instead of just one or two, like other pesticides. Not only this, but it enters the food chain, entering the fatty tissues of both humans and animals, causing cancer and genetic damages. After a single application to crops, it remained toxic for months, even after it had been diluted by rainwater. Consequently, it harmed countless birds and animals, contaminating the whole food chain's food supply. Ultimately, the novel depicts a world in which all of nature is silenced by the harmful affects of DDT.
the negative:
The reason quite a few people take issue with this novel is that, as an unintended outcome, it caused the deaths of millions of people around the world. As her novel took effect on the widespread use of DDT around the world, and the harmful effects on the environment started to slow down, the number of people dying of malaria started to go up. While there were very harmful effects to nature due to DDT, it did regulate the spread of disease, which is often carried by mosquitoes. Without this pesticide, millions of people died.
for more information, go to:
http://www.nrdc.org/health/pesticides/hcarson.asp
AND
http://www.ohiopma.org/pdfs/insight/DDT/artId=21219.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment