Rachel Carson responsible for the deaths of millions of African children

Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, accelerated the environmental consciousness movement. Bringing attention to the hazards behind DDT, however, also had unintended consequence. Many developing countries still use DDT as an effective means to combat malaria carrying mosquitoes. Other means of eliminating these malaria carrying pests are unavailable or much too expensive of an option to a large portion of the world. Additionally, DDT was attributed with aiding in eliminating malaria from the United States and other Western countries. In particular, African nations which have significant burdens from malaria have suffered and the ban on DDT resulted in the deaths of millions of children which may have been prevented by the use of DDT. Rachel Carson aimed to shed light on the long term issues presented by DDT instead of inappropriately just focusing on the short term solutions it provides. Moreover, it is better understood that pests evolve and become more resistant to pesticides over generations if the initial population is not completely eliminated. Attributing the deaths of African children seems more to be a ploy by her opponents, namely the chemicals industry. Knowledge is the solution in the short- and long-term. Learning more about the alternative options that may be available is necessary to maintain our immediate and extended health.

Rachel Carson

The name Rachel Carson is well recognized in certain scientific, environmental and conservationist circles. She was a prominent writer, environmental conservationist, and biologist. Silent Springs, one of Carson's more recognized works, shed light on the negative consequences of insecticidal chemicals, specifically DDT. She was met with significant opposition from corporate interests when she suggested that the use of certain chemicals have negative health impacts and their persistence in the environment. Her book made possible the consolidation of an already existing environmental consciousness movement. It provided rallying point where environmentalists could push for environmental reforms and regulations. Even when diagnosed with cancer, Carson put on a face of strength and determination in the public scene to push for environmental conservation. The eventual result was the establishment of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, which is one of the primary environmental regulatory bodies in the country.

What are PCBs?

• PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are chemicals that were used in making electrical parts
• They were linked to health issues in humans and environmental problems and banned in 1979
• Health issues related to PCBs are cancer, reproductive problems, and other issues
• PCBs remain in the environment for a long time because of the time it takes for them to degrade

How do PCBs get in my fish?

• PCBs can get into the air, water, and soil and contaminate bodies of water like lakes and rivers
• The chemicals are found in increasing amounts in bigger fish as they eat smaller fish
• PCBs build up in fat as you go up the food chain and are found in dangerously large quantities

How do I safely prepare contaminated fish?

The safest thing to do is to not eat contaminated fish, but following these steps can reduce risk:

• The head, skin and guts need to be removed and thrown away
• Cut away all of the fat areas
• Cook the fish on a grill or rack so any fat that was not cut away will drip down
• Throw away the fat drippings

Choropleth Map

Choropleth maps portray density variations in different colors per defined geographical units. These types of maps are used for scaled or normalized data and allow for user defined geographical units.

Isarithmic Map

Isarithmic maps use isolines with color coded values displayed in a smooth and continuous manner for a given region. These maps allow for estimations of a variable by correlating it to the band color. They may not be highly specific, but provide an overall appreciation of conditions for the region of interest.

Dot Density Map

Dot density maps use dots assigned with some numerical value to show affected areas of a selected region. They are fairly specific and allow us to discover high accumulations of a variable and where these accumulations are within a given region.

Proportional Symbol Map

Proportional symbol maps use scaled symbols to visualize intensity or density for areas within a selected region. They are effective in providing a quick representation of numerical values, albeit with less detail.

Environmental Sensitivity Index Map

Environmental sensitivity index maps are used to identify resources and ecological elements that may be impacted by an event. They provide useful information about the sensitivity each variable has to the event in question and allows for prioritization when mobilizing limited resources.

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