WHO warned of dangers of pesticides?

But in 1962, Rachel Carson, a marine biologist, published the book “Silent Spring,” which warned of the harmful effects of pesticides like DDT and called for a more holistic approach in controlling insect populations.

Who wrote a book about the dangers of pesticides?

On June 4, 1963, less than a year after the controversial environmental classic “Silent Spring” was published, its author, Rachel Carson, testified before a Senate subcommittee on pesticides. She was 56 and dying of breast cancer.

What did Rachel Carson say about pesticides?

Carson warned that pesticides like DDT — dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane — were being sprayed excessively and indiscriminately in attempts to control crop pests. Poisons washed into waterways and moved along the food chain, threatening delicate ecosystems for birds, fish and, ultimately, humans.

What was the chemical identified in Carson’s book?

DDT
Thirteen years later, in 1958, Carson’s interest in writing about the dangers of DDT was rekindled when she received a letter from a friend in Massachusetts bemoaning the large bird kills that had occurred on Cape Cod as the result of DDT sprayings.

Is DDT banned worldwide?

Since 1996, EPA has been participating in international negotiations to control the use of DDT and other persistent organic pollutants used around the world. The WHO position is consistent with the Stockholm Convention on POPs, which bans DDT for all uses except for malaria control.

Should DDT be banned worldwide?

Because DDT can travel long distances and accumulate in the body, millions of humans and animals worldwide have buildups of the chemical in their tissue, even though it may have been used on another continent. …

What is the main subject of Rachel Carson authored book Silent Spring?

The book was published on September 27, 1962, documenting the adverse environmental effects caused by the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting the industry’s marketing claims unquestioningly.

How did Rachel Carson stop the use of DDT?

In May 1963, Rachel Carson appeared before the Department of Commerce and asked for a “Pesticide Commission” to regulate the untethered use of DDT. Ten years later, Carson’s “Pesticide Commission” became the Environmental Protection Agency, which immediately banned DDT.

What environmental issue was targeted in Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring What was the outcome of her efforts?

What was the outcome of her efforts? Rachel Carson focused on the use of pesticides and the effects on organisms other than insects targeted. She was able to go to Congress and her efforts led to the ban on DDT in the US and more control on chemicals.

Is DDT still used in Australia?

By the early 1970s the use of DDT as a pesticide had been banned in the USA and there has been a total ban on DDT use in Australia since 1987.

Is DDT still used in America?

The United States banned the use of DDT in 1972. Some countries outside the United States still use DDT to control of mosquitoes that spread malaria.