Module 1.2 - A Turning Point Event for Environmental Science, Silent Spring
1. Point of View
The perspective presented in this video is that of someone who is environmentally conscious in the midst of the cold war. Rachel Carson worked with U.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Department, specifically on conservation publications. At the time, an insecticide called DDT was popularized due to its ability to kill disease carrying insects. The general public was faithful in scientific innovations and applied DDT liberally to areas of disease (American Experience, 2017).
2. Purpose
Rachel Carson's purpose in publishing her book Silent Spring was to warn the general public about the danger of overusing chemical pesticides (American Experience, 2017). She cautioned people of what the future of the environment might look like if they continued using DDT at such a high rate. The video is showing modern effects of DDT as well as the effects of her publication.
3. Questions at Issue
DDT was being used in excess as a cure-all for insect borne diseases. The widespread use of DDT, while immediately beneficial to diseased populations, was proving to have detrimental long term effects on the environment (Samels, 2017). Rachel Carson called into question the public's trust in scientific innovation. DDT helped lower disease numbers in the short term, but negatively affected wildlife populations in the long term. She also brought up the possibility of insects developing resistance to the chemical, leaving DDT useless in the future.
4. Information
Up to this point, chemical pesticides were harmful to human health and used with caution. DDT's discovery as a seemingly harmless chemical pesticide in 1939 was praised (American Experience, 2017). The chemical was used to kill typhus carrying lice by being sprayed on people. It was also dumped on mosquito infested islands to deter the spread of malaria by mosquitoes. DDT saved millions of lives this way and was even awarded the Nobel Prize. However, environmental scientists saw negative effects on wildlife populations due to the excess chemical use. Evidence showed high levels of DDT in humans attributed to contaminated food sources. There was also fear that excess use could lead to resistant insect populations, leaving the chemical ineffective in the future (Samels, 2017). These studies were documented in scientific journals. Rachel Carson brought the information to the general public's attention by publishing her book Silent Spring. After the book's publication, countries around the world outlawed DDT to protect the future of wildlife. Decades later, Rachel Carson's warnings are proving to be right. Mosquitoes have developed resistance to DDT and malaria numbers are high again (Samels, 2017). Scientists are currently researching ways to prevent mosquitoes from carrying malaria rather than relying on pesticides to avoid total chemical resistance.
5. Interpretation and Inference
Rachel Carson's book concluded that DDT does more harm than good in the long run. She encourages a wholistic view of disease and pest control and advocates for sustainability rather than brute force.
The perspective presented in this video is that of someone who is environmentally conscious in the midst of the cold war. Rachel Carson worked with U.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Department, specifically on conservation publications. At the time, an insecticide called DDT was popularized due to its ability to kill disease carrying insects. The general public was faithful in scientific innovations and applied DDT liberally to areas of disease (American Experience, 2017).
2. Purpose
Rachel Carson's purpose in publishing her book Silent Spring was to warn the general public about the danger of overusing chemical pesticides (American Experience, 2017). She cautioned people of what the future of the environment might look like if they continued using DDT at such a high rate. The video is showing modern effects of DDT as well as the effects of her publication.
3. Questions at Issue
DDT was being used in excess as a cure-all for insect borne diseases. The widespread use of DDT, while immediately beneficial to diseased populations, was proving to have detrimental long term effects on the environment (Samels, 2017). Rachel Carson called into question the public's trust in scientific innovation. DDT helped lower disease numbers in the short term, but negatively affected wildlife populations in the long term. She also brought up the possibility of insects developing resistance to the chemical, leaving DDT useless in the future.
4. Information
Up to this point, chemical pesticides were harmful to human health and used with caution. DDT's discovery as a seemingly harmless chemical pesticide in 1939 was praised (American Experience, 2017). The chemical was used to kill typhus carrying lice by being sprayed on people. It was also dumped on mosquito infested islands to deter the spread of malaria by mosquitoes. DDT saved millions of lives this way and was even awarded the Nobel Prize. However, environmental scientists saw negative effects on wildlife populations due to the excess chemical use. Evidence showed high levels of DDT in humans attributed to contaminated food sources. There was also fear that excess use could lead to resistant insect populations, leaving the chemical ineffective in the future (Samels, 2017). These studies were documented in scientific journals. Rachel Carson brought the information to the general public's attention by publishing her book Silent Spring. After the book's publication, countries around the world outlawed DDT to protect the future of wildlife. Decades later, Rachel Carson's warnings are proving to be right. Mosquitoes have developed resistance to DDT and malaria numbers are high again (Samels, 2017). Scientists are currently researching ways to prevent mosquitoes from carrying malaria rather than relying on pesticides to avoid total chemical resistance.
5. Interpretation and Inference
Rachel Carson's book concluded that DDT does more harm than good in the long run. She encourages a wholistic view of disease and pest control and advocates for sustainability rather than brute force.
6. Concepts
It was mentioned that DDT was being passed to humans through food sources. This references the concept of biomagnification, in which substances are passed through trophic levels in a food chain (Drouillard, 2008). DDT is not used and excreted like natural chemicals. Instead it is stored in the bodies of prey that ingest it. It accumulates and is passed on to the consumer. The consumer accumulates more of the chemical, and passes this higher level of DDT to the secondary consumer, and so forth. Because of the mass use of DDT as a pesticide, human food sources are contaminated with this chemical and leaves humans with extremely high levels of it. (Samels, 2017) While DDT was not observed to be immediately harmful to humans, they failed to study the effects of this biomagnification.
Another concept referenced in the video is that of evolution (Samels, 2017). Specifically mutations and natural selection. For mosquitoes to develop a resistance to DDT, there must first be a mutation introduced to the population. When sprayed with DDT, mosquitoes without the beneficial mutation will die out. Those with resistance will survive and reproduce, passing on the resistant genes. This process is called natural selection.
The entire video and the book it is discussing revolves around the principle of sustainability. Rachel Carson is advocating for sustainable practices to uphold the integrity of the environment while still benefiting the human population. This stems from the belief that a healthy environment is necessary for the prosperity of humanity. She believes in looking at long term wholistic solutions (Samels, 2017).
7. Assumptions
The book Silent Spring has the assumption that the public subscribes to the idea that nature must be balanced and healthy for the survival of man.
It was mentioned that DDT was being passed to humans through food sources. This references the concept of biomagnification, in which substances are passed through trophic levels in a food chain (Drouillard, 2008). DDT is not used and excreted like natural chemicals. Instead it is stored in the bodies of prey that ingest it. It accumulates and is passed on to the consumer. The consumer accumulates more of the chemical, and passes this higher level of DDT to the secondary consumer, and so forth. Because of the mass use of DDT as a pesticide, human food sources are contaminated with this chemical and leaves humans with extremely high levels of it. (Samels, 2017) While DDT was not observed to be immediately harmful to humans, they failed to study the effects of this biomagnification.
Another concept referenced in the video is that of evolution (Samels, 2017). Specifically mutations and natural selection. For mosquitoes to develop a resistance to DDT, there must first be a mutation introduced to the population. When sprayed with DDT, mosquitoes without the beneficial mutation will die out. Those with resistance will survive and reproduce, passing on the resistant genes. This process is called natural selection.
The entire video and the book it is discussing revolves around the principle of sustainability. Rachel Carson is advocating for sustainable practices to uphold the integrity of the environment while still benefiting the human population. This stems from the belief that a healthy environment is necessary for the prosperity of humanity. She believes in looking at long term wholistic solutions (Samels, 2017).
7. Assumptions
The book Silent Spring has the assumption that the public subscribes to the idea that nature must be balanced and healthy for the survival of man.
8. Consequences
The publication of Silent Spring lead to the outlawing of DDT in countries all over the world. Some criticized this move, citing growing cases of malaria in third world countries (Samels, 2017). Scientists had to find other ways to prevent disease. People were forced to reexamine their blind trust in science and technology. Today, there are regulations put on pesticides to reduce their negative effects on people and the environment.
The publication of Silent Spring lead to the outlawing of DDT in countries all over the world. Some criticized this move, citing growing cases of malaria in third world countries (Samels, 2017). Scientists had to find other ways to prevent disease. People were forced to reexamine their blind trust in science and technology. Today, there are regulations put on pesticides to reduce their negative effects on people and the environment.
Ponzi, E. (2017). Silent Spring - II [Illustration]. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1962/06/23/silent-spring-part-2
References
American Experience | PBS. (17 January, 2017). Chapter 1 | Rachel Carson | American Experience | PBS [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeJNRaE11A0.
Drouillard, K. G. (2008). Biomagnification. Encyclopedia of Ecology, 1(2), 353-358. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/biomagnification.
Samels, M. (Executive Producer). (2017). Malaria and the Silent Spring [Digital Short]. American Experience, PBS, Retro Report.
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