FEATURE
banned in many Western countries, as were used to control plant pests. Their confidence
other examples of the highly persistent
By highlighting the dangers
is illustrated by the fact that this year’s BCPC
organochlorine insecticides, such as chlordane
of the previous generation of
Congress includes a debate on whether
and dieldrin. Then, in 2000, all agricultural Carson would have felt the need to write
uses of DDT were banned globally, under
pesticides, it provided them
Silent Spring today. Although whether the
a treaty produced by the United Nations with the impetus to develop crop protection industry would have got to
Environment Program. However, the treaty
subsequent generations
this point without Silent Spring is also worth
contained an exemption for disease vector considering.
control, as DDT is a highly effective means for
killing malaria-transmitting mosquitoes. and generally safer. Silent Spring may have Carson herself didn’t live to see the many
made life more difficult for crop protection changes brought about by Silent Spring, dying
Carson also highlighted organophosphate companies, which are now required to jump in 1964 from breast cancer. But the major role
insecticides such as malathion and through many more regulatory hoops before she played in raising environmental awareness
parathion as being of concern. These lasted launching a new pesticide product, but it also has been recognised with numerous
longer than many of the organochlorine provided them with new ways to compete. posthumous awards, including the Presidential
insecticides, because they aren’t as toxic to As well as inspiring the EPA and the global Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian
the environment, but are now increasingly environmental movement, can Silent Spring honour, in 1980. She has also had buildings
being replaced by the newer pyrethroid and also be credited with inspiring the modern and bridges named after her, as well as the
neonicotinoid insecticides. R&D-based crop protection company? EPA’s main conference room, while a 260ha
conservation park has been established in her
All this helps to explain why the chemical and The crop protection industry certainly seems honour in Maryland.
crop protection industries were fairly quickly confident that it has answered many of the
able to come to terms with Silent Spring. questions raised by Carson in Silent Spring. Over 40 years on, the furore caused by
By highlighting the dangers of the previous Not only by designing safer pesticide products, Silent Spring continues to reverberate.
generation of pesticides, it provided them but by helping to develop the concept of
with the impetus to develop subsequent integrated pest management, whereby Jon Evans is a freelance science writer and
generations, which were more targeted pesticides are just one of a suite of measures contributing editor to Agrow Magazine.
process development expertise
broad range of technologies
more than 70 years of experience in agrochemistry
our competence, your growth
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requirements. Our talents, tech- accelerate your product devel-
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10 September 2007
www.agrow.com
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