It has been more than 40 years since Rachel Carson published her book The Silent Spring on the disastrous effects of pesticides on ecosystems. Since that time, many a Spring has gone by and I wonder, are we any smarter, wiser or more heedful now than we were then? I fear not. True, there have been many extraordinary changes made as a direct result of her book such as the banning of DDT, the ecology movement, national and state pollution controls. But we still use poisonous chemicals at our peril. According to a 1996 report published by the UN entitled Beyond Silent Spring, which looks at the international aspects of chemical use:

“Today we can add vastly to Rachel Carson's list. Humankind is exposed to thousands of other chemical substances in ever increasing quantity and variety. Of the 11 million substances known, some 60,000-70,000 are in regular use. Yet toxicological data are only available for a fraction of the more than 3,000-odd chemicals which account for 90% by mass of the total used. The data on the environmental and ecotoxicological properties of such substances are even more scanty.” (p. x)

International use of pesticides has increased dramatically, particularly in third world countries. (And as a trip to the produce section of any local supermarket confirms, this imminently relates to us!). “For example, in Japan, there was a sevenfold increase between 1960 and 1970” (ibid., p. 4) For a society so concerned with terrorism, it is amazing that we still turn a blind eye to the bioterrorism done in the name of big business that is killing our environment and ourselves.

Nonetheless, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring began a revolution, a change, as writers have described, as cataclysmic as Harriet Beecher Stowe on slavery or Einstein on our view of the universe. While lyrical in her descriptions of the “preservation of the natural landscape and of the intricate web of life whose interwoven strands lead from microbe to man” (p. 69), there is nothing 'fuzzy' or naively idealist here. What made Rachel Carson's book so powerful then and now is the clear, well written and well documented way in which she presents the devastating facts. In each chapter, whether talking about rivers, sea, birds, animals, worms or humans, Ms. Carson begins by explaining how the biosystems work and the balanced interplay between creatures. She then presents specific cases, including the amounts and the manner, in which insecticides or herbicides were used. The consequential damage to the land and creatures on it - and to the economy -- is described in chilling detail. It is utterly astounding.. Finally, she suggests some of the alternatives that might have been used.

Ms. Carson's book raises questions that still need to be addressed. Some she raises herself such as:

• “whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized.” (p. 95)
• “By acquiescing in an act that can cause such suffering to a living creature, who among us is not diminished as a human being?” (p. 96)
• “when will the public become sufficiently aware of the facts to demand…action?” (p. 140)
• “But doesn't the government protect us from such things?” (p. 164)

Other questions are in light of our time and the long term chemical effects in the 40 years that have gone by since she wrote her work:

• Is the rise in cancer, ADD, ADHD, chronic fatigue disease, depression, etc. a result of the physical changes wrought by ingestion of pesticides/herbicides?

• Is the mysterious disappearance of frogs, an important puzzle to scientists, not so mysterious after all?

• Why are humans so stupid in their actions and so slow to make changes when they know what they need to do?

It might be old as science books go, but as the 40 year anniversary edition proves, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring stands up today as well as it did then. It should be required reading for every farmer, every corporate worker, every consumer, every gardener, every householder and every high school student. In other words, it should be required reading for all of us!

Jane S. Rechtman
The Masters School
Summer 2004

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