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Pesticide Suicide: Silent Spring By Rachel Carson

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Pesticide Suicide
After reading Silent Spring by Rachel Carson my perception on the use of pesticides has changed. I was aware of the possible effects that could occur if pesticides were applied incorrectly, such as contaminating the water supply. However, I didn’t realize the severity of such effects and their coupling consequences caused by unregulated sprayings only fifty-six years ago. As Carson illustrated, the pesticidal contaminants, including DDT, PCBs, Dieldrin, Heptachlor, phenols, and countless others, not only affected targeted pests, but also unintentionally affected surrounding organismal populations. These included salmon in the streams, robins in the trees, cattle in the pasture, and eagles in their nests, to list a few.
Fire ant removal in the Southern states caused public uproar. The insect wasn't bothersome to most, yet the government continued their mission to eradicate it. Dieldrin and heptachlor, chemicals far more toxic than DDT, were applied to lands. These chemicals caused a nervous system disease, and in a few weeks, numerous animals domestic and wild died off (Carson 168). Southerners then questioned food quality, worrying drinking milk and eating meat of the contaminated animals would harm them as well (169). Not to mention, once the program came to an end, it was believed there were more fire ants than when they …show more content…

I live surrounded by dairy farms and farmland, and if concerns arise regarding their operations I will report it to the appropriate authorities. As for individually spraying for weeds and insects on lawns or in trees, I will try and avoid it, but if it’s unavoidable I will take necessary precautions. This includes simple measures, such as only spot spraying where it’s needed, moving pets out of harm's way, and wearing appropriate attire to prevent skin contact and

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