Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

“The most alarming of all man’s assault upon the environment is the contamination of air, earth, rivers, and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials.” (Carson 153). Carson writes about how we as humans bring chemicals and products into our environment without thinking about the consequences that these chemicals could on day have not only on the environment and animals but also on humans. Essentially we are trying to control populations that have become rampant because of our own doing and we now want to get rid of them. In trying to get rid of these species or bugs or whatever they may be we do not take into consideration in which the means we take to get rid of them. There are things we could do to first keep these species to a minimum and also things we can do to try and control them without unleashing reckless chemicals that we know little about. In order to try and control these populations to begin with Carson suggests that we go back to the way we used to farm, with multiple crops to a farm. She pointed out that when we have a farm with one crop, bugs or animals that feast on the crop can thrive and multiply much more rapidly. “Man can hardly recognize the devils of his own creation” (Carson 154). Once chemicals are used it is hard to switch back to finding natural ways to solve our problems. Furthermore, not only do chemicals help to get rid of the intended target, but they could also have harmful effects on humans that are not yet known. “Thus the chemical war is never won, and all life is caught in its violent crossfire.” (Carson 155). The environment can work out its problems naturally but humans don’t like to wait for problems to be solved in their own time; we like to get things done on our schedule and effect all the things around us in doing so. Essentially, we decide to plant or work differently causing an adverse effect and then we try to fix the problem that we have caused by something that could in turn keep causing problems. It is like a vicious cycle that is waiting to explode.

http://www.chromatographytoday.com/news/gc-mdgc-gc-ms/32/shimadzu/new_gcms_method_package_for_residual_pesticides_in_foods_released_/18496/