Silent Spring : An Environmental Science Book

by Carson Rachel

Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2020

Reviews

[Tanja Nayak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Carson's book "A Silent Spring" is a must read for anyone who is interested in environmental issues. The book was first published in 1962. Carson was a marine biologist, zoologist, and scientist whose friends contacted her when they discovered that birds were dying in droves. They asked her to investigate. She discovered that the cause was environmental pollution was caused due to a highly toxic pesticide DDT. The pesticide was sprayed liberally to combat mosquitoes, but adversely affected plants, animals, and humans too. The book is also about the adverse effects of other pesticides, some of which are still sadly available today. There has been a lot of talk about "forever chemicals" poisoning the environment lately, so this book is as relevant today as it was years ago. DDT caused the eggshells of bald eagle eggs to be too thin which almost wiped about these magnificent birds. Thankfully Carson had the support of US President John F Kennedy and she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work. She died of cancer, perhaps from researching toxic chemicals? The book is well written and extensively researched and thanks to Carson the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was created. She was one of the first women to work to the US Fish and Wildlife Services too. A pioneer for women and the environment.