What themes are in Silent Spring?
The main theme of Silent Spring is the destruction of the delicate balance of nature by the wholesale use of insecticides. Rachel Carson carefully explains what the balance of nature is. She describes the balance of nature of the soil, of the earth’s waters, and of the organisms of the earth.
Why was Silent Spring banned?
Kennedy ordered the President’s Science Advisory Committee to examine the issues the book raised, its report thoroughly vindicated both Silent Spring and its author. As a result, DDT came under much closer government supervision and was eventually banned.
What did Silent Spring warn about?
“Silent Spring” presents a view of nature compromised by synthetic pesticides, especially DDT. Once these pesticides entered the biosphere, Carson argued, they not only killed bugs but also made their way up the food chain to threaten bird and fish populations and could eventually sicken children.
What is Rachel Carson’s thesis in Silent Spring?
Carson’s thesis throughout Silent Spring was that pesticides and chemicals used to kill pests on crops bleed into the environment and affect our water sources. These chemicals are involuntarily ingested by larger creatures when they eat poisoned insects.
What does the pesticide DDT stand for?
DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) was developed as the first of the modern synthetic insecticides in the 1940s. DDT’s quick success as a pesticide and broad use in the United States and other countries led to the development of resistance by many insect pest species.
What rhetorical strategies are used in Silent Spring?
Literary and rhetorical devices in the first chapter of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring include metaphor, extended metaphor, pathos, imagery, simile, and hyperbole.
Was Banning DDT a mistake?
Yes, DDT was overused, and there were concerns about the effect on bird eggs. There were also concerns that insects might become resistant. Unfortunately, the outright ban had the consequence of making DDT unavailable, greatly increasing the incidence of Malaria in Africa and other tropical areas.
What did Rachel Carson research?
Marine biologist and writer Rachel Carson is hailed as one of the most important conservationists in history and is recognized as the mother of modern environmentalism. She challenged the use of man-made chemicals, and her research led to the nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides.
Why is DDT banned?
Regulation Due to Health and Environmental Effects In 1972, EPA issued a cancellation order for DDT based on its adverse environmental effects, such as those to wildlife, as well as its potential human health risks. DDT is: known to be very persistent in the environment, will accumulate in fatty tissues, and.
How was DDT causing damage?
In experimental animals, such as mice, rats, and dogs, DDT has shown to cause chronic effects on the nervous system, liver, kidneys, and immune system. It has also been found that humans, who were occupationally exposed to DDT, suffered chromosomal damage.
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