Silent Spring Revisited

About this book

An examination of what has happened in the 25 years since the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. Was she right? This review argues that she was correct on more points and issues than she was wrong on.

Contents

Rachel Carson: Her Vision and Her Legacy; The Not So Silent Spring: Evolution of Government Regulation; Current Pesticide Registration Criteria; Alternatives to Pesticidal Chemicals; The Science and Politics of Pesticides: The Changing Image of Pesticides; The Regulatory Decision-Making Process; Toxicology; Carcinogenic Risk Assessment; Scientific Uncertainty and Regulatory Conservatism; Public Perception and Acceptance of Risk; Assessing the Toxicity of Pesticides to Aquatic Organisms: Hindsight: Silent Spring and Aquatic Resources; Heptachlor and a Host of Others: Still Found Where They Should Not Be; Have Environmental Residues Declined?; How Little Is Too Much; Impact of Pesticides on Ground Water Contamination; Impact of Pesticides on Bird Populations; Human Health Effects of Pesticides: Acute Pesticide Poisoning; Other Health Effects; Cancer Risks; Persistence; Resistance; Disposal; The Years Ahead; Analytical Chemistry of Pesticides: Evolution and Impact: How Small is Small?; The Analytical Chemist's Tasks; Evolution of Analytical Methodology; Analysis vs. Risk Assessment; Pesticides: Global Use and Concerns: Chemicals Used in Agriculture; Transport and Modeling of Pesticides; Concerns over Pesticide Use in the Third World; Agriculture, Pesticides, and the American Chemical Industry: The Demographic Nature of American Agriculture; A Conflict of Values; Pesticides Produced before Silent Spring; Pesticides Produced at Publication of Silent Spring; The Newer Agrochemicals of the 1980s; Technology and Farm Income; Is Silent Spring Behind Us: Fewer Pesticide Problems During the Past Two Decades; Increased Pesticide Problems During the Past Two Decades; Status of Integrated Pest Management; Why Are Losses Due to Pests Greater Today Than 40 Years Ago?; Many Roads and Other Worlds: Chemicals to Control Pests; Risk vs. Benefit; Analysis of Pesticides; Persistence of Pesticides; Effects of Pesticides; Response of Various Sectors; Different Sides of the Coin; Evaluation of Hazards

Customer Reviews