Rachel Carson [[Silent Spring]] Documentary

Summary

The video script discusses the controversial impact of pesticides as highlighted in Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring.' It delves into the chemical industry's rebuttals, the government and public health perspectives, and the ecological consequences. The debate centers on the balance between the necessity of pest control and the potential long-term environmental and health risks, emphasizing the need for further research and a cautious approach to pesticide use.

Takeaways

• 📚 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson, first printed in 1962, has sold 500,000 copies and sparked a national debate on the use of chemical pesticides.
• 🌿 Carson argued that since the mid-1940s, over 200 chemicals were created for pest control, sold under thousands of brand names, and applied universally, affecting ecosystems.
• 🐦 The book claims that these chemicals, intended to kill pests, also harm beneficial insects and wildlife, leading to silent springs without bird songs due to their lethal effects.
• 🤔 Carson questioned the safety of pesticides, suggesting they should be called 'biocides' and criticized the lack of scientific evidence supporting their safety.
• 💬 The chemical industry, represented by Dr. Robert White-Stevens, refuted Carson's claims as distortions, asserting that without pesticides, pests would devastate ecosystems and human health.
• 🛡️ The government and many farmers defended the use of pesticides, citing their importance in controlling diseases like malaria and boosting agricultural production.
• 🚫 Carson advocated for a more cautious approach to pesticide use, emphasizing the need for better understanding of their long-term effects on the environment and human health.
• 🔬 There is an acknowledged lack of comprehensive data on the effects of pesticides on human health, wildlife, and the environment, indicating a need for further research.
• 🚫 The script highlights that some pesticide residues, once thought safe, have later been found to be harmful, necessitating changes in regulations and tolerance levels.
• 🌱 The report suggests a shift towards alternative pest control methods, such as biological controls, which are more precise and less harmful to the environment.
• 🌳 The debate over pesticides reflects a broader conflict about mankind's role in the environment and the ethical implications of manipulating nature for human benefit.

Q & A

What is the main argument of Rachel Carson's book 'Silent Spring'?

Carson's main argument in 'Silent Spring' is that the widespread use of chemical pesticides is causing significant harm to the environment and could potentially lead to disastrous consequences for all life forms, including humans.

What was the chemical industry's response to Rachel Carson's claims in 'Silent Spring'?

The chemical industry, represented by Dr. Robert White-Stevens, claimed that Carson's assertions were gross distortions, unsupported by scientific evidence, and that the real threat to humanity was not chemical but biological, in the form of pests that could devastate food supplies and spread diseases.

What are the potential environmental consequences of using pesticides as described in the script?

The script describes that pesticides can kill beneficial insects, birds, and aquatic life, contaminate soil and water, and lead to the development of pesticide-resistant insect species, ultimately disrupting the balance of nature.

What is the role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating pesticide residues on food?

The FDA is responsible for setting tolerance levels for pesticide residues on food, ensuring that these residues do not exceed safe levels, and monitoring interstate shipments of food to ensure compliance with these regulations.

How does the script address the issue of pesticide resistance in insects?

The script mentions that over 137 different species of insects have become resistant to some insecticides, which has led to the need for producing new chemicals each year to which the insects are not resistant.

What are some of the health risks associated with pesticide exposure mentioned in the script?

The script discusses the potential for acute pesticide poisoning, long-term exposure effects such as cancer and genetic damage, and the possible impact on human reproduction as health risks associated with pesticide exposure.

What is the position of the United States Department of Agriculture on the use of pesticides?

The Department of Agriculture, represented by Secretary Orville Freeman, defends the use of pesticides as necessary for controlling pests that could otherwise cause significant agricultural losses and affect food production.

What is the significance of the statement 'the balance of nature is built of a series of interrelationships' in the context of the script?

This statement emphasizes the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the potential for human interventions, such as the use of pesticides, to disrupt these delicate balances with unforeseen and far-reaching consequences.

What alternatives to chemical pesticides does the script suggest?

The script suggests alternatives such as biological controls, including the use of natural insect predators, sterilizing insects, and using natural insect secretions as lures into traps.

What impact did 'Silent Spring' have on government policies and public awareness regarding pesticides?

The script indicates that 'Silent Spring' led to increased public concern and prompted government agencies to review their pesticide programs, consider the need for better controls, and explore alternative pest control methods.

What is the role of the Public Health Service in the context of pesticide regulation and research?

The Public Health Service is involved in studying the effects of pesticides on human health, setting safety standards, and conducting research to better understand the long-term and cumulative effects of pesticide exposure.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Controversy Over Pesticides in Silent Spring

The script introduces 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson, a groundbreaking book that sparked national debate on the use of chemical pesticides. Since its release in 1962, it has sold 500,000 copies. Carson argued that these chemicals, developed post-WWII, were not just killing pests but also harming the environment and human life. The chemical industry, represented by Dr. Robert White-Stevens, criticized Carson's claims as distortions, unsupported by evidence. The script sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the impact of pesticides on health, wildlife, and the ecosystem.

05:02

🌱 The Impact and Defense of Pesticides

This paragraph delves into the widespread use of pesticides in agriculture, with 28% of cultivated land sprayed annually. High-ranking officials, including the Surgeon General and the Secretary of Agriculture, defend the use of pesticides, citing their contributions to health and food production. However, concerns are raised about the safety of pesticide residues on food, with the FDA allowing traces of 127 different pesticides. The paragraph also acknowledges the toxicity of some pesticides and the reassurance given to the public about their safe use when following label instructions.

10:03

🚨 Rachel Carson's Critique of Pesticide Overuse

The script presents Rachel Carson's argument from 'Silent Spring' that the misuse of pesticides is causing more harm than good. Carson contends that these chemicals are being used without sufficient knowledge of their long-term effects on the environment and human health. She illustrates the damage to wildlife, soil, and water, and criticizes the false assurances given to the public about the safety of these chemicals. Carson calls for a more cautious and scientific approach to pest control, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life and the potential for irreversible damage.

15:04

🌿 Silent Spring's Influence and the Call for Change

The paragraph discusses the impact of 'Silent Spring' on public opinion and policy, with notable figures like Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas praising its importance. Despite accusations of scientific inaccuracies and emotional language, the book led to a reevaluation of pesticide use by government agencies. President Kennedy's administration responded to the concerns raised in the book by ordering a review of the pesticide program, indicating a shift towards acknowledging the potential hazards of pesticides and the need for better regulation.

20:07

🐟 The Ecological Consequences of Pesticide Use

This section highlights the ecological damage caused by pesticides, including the death of fish and wildlife due to contamination of water sources. It acknowledges the lack of comprehensive data on the effects of pesticides on the environment and human health. The script points out the challenges in measuring the long-term exposure effects on aquatic life and the potential for pesticide residues in drinking water. It also addresses the issue of pesticide-resistant insects, which has led to the development of new chemicals, adding to the cycle of environmental harm.

25:07

🔬 The Need for Further Research on Pesticides

The script emphasizes the need for more research to understand the full impact of pesticides on the environment and human health. It discusses the limited knowledge about pesticide persistence in water, their effects on wildlife, and the potential for bioaccumulation in organisms. The paragraph also raises questions about the long-term storage of pesticides in the human body and their potential effects on growth, reproduction, and genetic material, calling for more rigorous testing and understanding before these chemicals are released into the market.

30:07

🛑 The Challenge of Pesticide Regulation and Safety

This paragraph examines the challenges faced by regulatory bodies like the FDA in ensuring the safety of food and the environment. It discusses the limitations in current pesticide controls, the difficulty in彻底ly testing for genetic effects, and the need for more funding and resources for inspection and research. The script also highlights the potential risks of pesticide residues in food and the importance of setting stricter tolerances to protect public health.

35:08

🌱 The Debate on Biological Controls and Pest Management

The script presents a shift towards exploring alternative pest control methods, such as biological controls, which are more precise and less harmful to the environment. It discusses the potential of using natural predators, sterilization techniques, and insect secretions as part of integrated pest management strategies. Industry and government officials express support for further research in this area, acknowledging the limitations of chemical pesticides and the need for more sustainable solutions.

40:08

🌳 The Broader Implications of Human Interaction with Nature

The final paragraph reflects on the broader philosophical and ethical implications of human interaction with nature. It frames the debate around pesticides as part of a larger discussion about mankind's role in the environment and the consequences of attempting to control it. The script calls for a more responsible and informed approach to using our power to alter nature, emphasizing the need for maturity and self-mastery in our decisions that affect the ecological balance.

Keywords

💡Silent Spring

Silent Spring is a book by Rachel Carson that sparked national controversy and environmental awareness. It is central to the video's theme, illustrating the impact of chemical pesticides on the environment and human health. The book is mentioned repeatedly throughout the script as the catalyst for the debate on the use of these chemicals.

💡Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals used to kill, repel, or control pests such as insects, weeds, and rodents. They are a focal point in the video, with discussions on their benefits and potential hazards. The script mentions that over 200 basic chemicals have been created for pest control since the mid-1940s, indicating their widespread use and the ensuing controversy.

💡Biocides

The term 'biocides' is used by Carson to emphasize that these chemicals are not just insecticides but affect all life forms. It is a key concept in the video, highlighting the broader environmental impact of pesticides. The script points out that these chemicals could be more accurately termed 'biocides' due to their non-selective nature.

💡Environmental Controversy

Environmental controversy refers to disputes arising from differing views on environmental issues. The video revolves around the controversy ignited by 'Silent Spring,' which challenged the use of pesticides. The script details the heated debate between the benefits of pesticides and their detrimental effects on the environment.

💡Chemical Industry

The chemical industry is portrayed in the video as a major player in the production and defense of pesticides. The script includes a statement from a chemical industry spokesman, Dr. Robert White-Stevens, who argues against Carson's claims, illustrating the industry's stance on the issue.

💡Ecological Impact

Ecological impact pertains to the effects of human activities on the environment. The video discusses the ecological impact of pesticides, such as killing beneficial insects, affecting bird populations, and contaminating water sources. The script emphasizes the far-reaching consequences of pesticide use on ecosystems.

💡Public Health

Public health is concerned with the overall health of communities. The video addresses the potential risks of pesticide residues on food and their impact on human health. The script includes statements from health officials discussing the safety and potential hazards of pesticides, reflecting the broader concern for public health.

💡Biological Control

Biological control is a method of pest management using natural predators or other organisms to control pests. The video suggests a shift towards biological control as an alternative to chemical pesticides. The script mentions this as a more precise and scientific method, indicating a potential solution to the pesticide problem.

💡Pesticide Resistance

Pesticide resistance occurs when pests evolve to withstand the effects of pesticides. The video discusses the issue of resistance, which necessitates the development of new pesticides. The script points out that over 137 different species of insects have become resistant to some insecticides, illustrating the ongoing challenge of pest management.

💡Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The FDA is a government agency responsible for protecting public health through the regulation of food safety, drugs, and cosmetics. The video mentions the FDA in the context of regulating pesticide residues on food. The script includes statements from FDA officials discussing the challenges of ensuring food safety in the presence of pesticides.

💡Genetic Damage

Genetic damage refers to changes or mutations in an organism's genetic material, which can lead to health issues or be passed on to future generations. The video raises concerns about the potential for pesticides to cause genetic damage. The script suggests that further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of pesticide exposure on humans and wildlife.

Highlights

Silent Spring, first printed in 1962, has sold 500,000 copies and sparked national controversy on the use of chemical pesticides.

Biologist Rachel Carson's work on Silent Spring led to a debate on the impact of chemicals used for pest control.

Over 200 basic chemicals created post-mid-1940s for pest control are sold under thousands of brand names, raising concerns about their environmental impact.

Carson argues that pesticides should be termed biocides due to their non-selective nature, affecting all life forms, not just pests.

Chemical industry spokesman Dr. Robert White Stevens refutes Carson's claims, asserting that pesticides are essential and not harmful when used properly.

Pesticide use has been credited with the control of diseases like malaria, contributing to human health.

The USDA defends pesticide use, stating it is crucial for maintaining food and agricultural production.

Pesticide residues on food crops are regulated, with 127 different pesticides permitted by law, though their long-term safety remains uncertain.

Carson criticizes the lack of comprehensive information on the effects of pesticides on the environment and human health.

The public is largely uninformed about the potential hazards of pesticides, which Carson argues is a significant oversight.

Pesticide resistance in insects is increasing, leading to the development of new chemicals, which may pose further risks.

Carson calls for an end to false assurances and a need for better control of pesticide use.

The potential for pesticides to cause genetic damage and contribute to diseases like cancer is a concern raised by Carson.

The FDA admits to inadequacies in pesticide controls and the need for more rigorous testing and inspection.

Biological and environmental control methods are suggested as alternatives to chemical pesticides, though they face challenges in specificity and timing.

The debate over pesticide use reflects a broader conflict about man's role in manipulating nature for his benefit.

Carson emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting the balance of nature to ensure mankind's survival.

Transcripts

this is one of the nation's best sellers

first printed on September 27 1962 up to

now 500,000 copies have been sold and

Silent Spring has been called the most

controversial book of the year biologist

Rachel Carson who also wrote to see

around us worked for years in the

preparation of Silent Spring what she

wrote started a national quarrel

chemicals are the sinister and little

recognized partners of radiation in

changing the very nature of the world

the very nature of its life since the

mid-1940s over 200 basic chemicals have

been created for use in killing insects

weeds rodents and other organisms

described in the modern vernacular as

pests and they are sold under several

thousand different brand names these

sprays dusts and aerosols are now

applied almost universally to firms

gardens forests and homes non-selective

chemicals that have the power to kill

every insect the good and the bad

distill the song of birds and the

leaping of fishing streams to coat the

leaves with a deadly film and to linger

on in soil all this though the intended

target may be only a few weeds or

insects can anyone believe it is

possible to lay down such a barrage of

poisons on the surface of the earth

without making it unfit for all life

they should not be called insecticides

but biocides

a spokesman for the chemical industry

dr. Robert white Stevens the major

claims in miss Rachel Carson's book

Silent Spring are gross distortions of

the actual facts completely unsupported

by scientific experimental evidence and

general practical experience in the

field a suggestion that pesticides are

in fact biocides destroying our life is

obviously absurd in the light of the

fact that without selective biological

activity these compounds would

completely useless the real threat then

to the survival of man is not chemical

but biological in the shape of hordes of

insects that continued our forests sweep

over our crop lands ravaged our food

supply and leave in their wake a train

of destitution and hunger conveying to

an undernourished population the major

diseases and scourgeth of mankind if man

were to faithfully follow the teachings

of Miss Carson we would return to the

dark ages and the insects and diseases

and vermin would once again inherit the

earth

CBS reports the silent spring of Rachel

Carson here is CBS News correspondent

Eric severide good evening we are living

and what has been called the synthetic

age the age of the atom the missile the

frozen TV dinner in the next hour you

will hear that this is also the age of

the worm las' a palang the calculated

risk miss Rachel Carson and those who

agree with her charge that risks

involved in the use of chemical

pesticides far exceed the benefits they

provide including warmly samples in the

heat of this controversy one is reminded

of Abraham Lincoln's first words to

Harriet Beecher Stowe so you're the

little lady who wrote the book that made

this great war sit down please tonight

we shall sit down in an attempt to

examine a controversy and a problem that

begins here with the insect damage

caused by pests in this country alone an

estimated 14 billion dollars a year we

compete for our food with about 3,000

different species of insects some

carrying disease attack man directly the

insects were here perhaps 400 million

years before man arose and some

scientists believe that because of their

strength and adaptability they will be

here four hundred million years after

man vacates

it is said that their inheritance of the

earth if it comes could result from a

few false moves on the part of man today

man's defense rests primarily on

chemical poisons brewed in flasks and

test tubes synthetic organic pesticides

are the major weapon dr. Robert white

Stevens assistant to the director of

research American Cyanamid company

explained these chemicals to producer

Jay McMullen organic pesticides are

simply those compounds which contain

carbon and synthetic organic pesticides

are compounds which have been

synthesized by the chemist in the

laboratory taking fragments of various

other substances and putting them

together into a new molecular

configuration the total number of

pesticide formulations registered for

sale fifty five thousand five hundred

they come in insecticides

besides fungicides numata sides

rodenticides and herbicides we are told

conquer crabgrass and kill lawn insects

with one easy application put the

squeeze on garden insects in plant

disease kills aphids Japanese beetles

mites thrips earwigs and tent

caterpillars anytime is spray time

according to the National Academy of

Sciences 28% of our cropland under

cultivation is sprayed each year with

pesticides the country's total amount of

land treated with pesticides is

estimated at more than 194 million acres

the use of pesticides is defended by

industry government and many farmers for

reasons you are about to hear first the

Surgeon General of the United States dr.

Luther Terry on pesticides and human

health pesticides have contributed

considerably I would say greatly to

health in this country an example in

this direction I think is the control of

malaria which has been made possible in

this country by the use of pesticides

insecticides for instance back in 1935

we had over 150,000 cases of malaria in

the United States today we have

virtually none in the few cases that are

seen are usually brought in from abroad

also in terms of control of many other

diseases including encephalitis murine

typhus fever and many others I think

that one should appreciate that though

it has been of considerable importance

in this country worldwide the use of

insecticides and pesticides in the

control of human disease have been

probably of even greater significance

United States Department of Agriculture

also defends the use of pesticides

Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman

without the use of some of these

concurrence some of these pesticides and

some of these chemicals of various kinds

why we would have have let us say we're

food and agricultural production is

concerned if not insect ascendancy at

least insect equality and we'd be moving

on the

not the upside many of the new synthetic

chemicals are highly toxic contact

poisons inhalation or a few drops on the

skin may cause human illness or death

but we are told when pesticides

registered pesticides are used in

accordance with label instructions and

recommendations then there is no danger

to either man or to animals and wildlife

many of these chemicals are sprayed on

our food crops and tolerances are tiny

residues of 127 different pesticides are

permitted by law to be present on the

food we eat are these residues safe

George Larrick commissioner United

States Food and Drug Administration I do

not know of any human injuries caused by

an amount of pesticide on a food product

which did not exceed the tolerance even

though a substance may be toxic or very

poisonous in a certain amount as

pesticides are in smaller amounts it can

be used safely is that the general

principle yes they're not I wouldn't say

they are all very toxic they run the

gamut from relatively safe ones to very

toxic ones but the tolerances are all

based on the principle that you just

stated the maximum pesticide residues

permitted on the food we eat are 100

times smaller than the amount fed with

no sign of ill effects to a generation

of laboratory animals dr. Whelan Hayes

toxicologist Public Health Service there

is no evidence that the small doses of

pesticides that we do get are causing

any harm the only effect that can be

measured objectively is the storage of

one of them DDT in the tissues of most

people the amount stored in ordinary

people who eat ordinary food and have no

occupational exposure is less than n

parts per million this storage has not

caused any injury that we can detect up

to now we have presented only one side

of the pesticide controversy but there

is

more to be said miss Rachel Carson we've

heard the benefits of pesticides we have

heard a great deal about their safety

but very little about the hazards very

little about the failures the

inefficiencies and yet the public was

being asked to accept these chemicals

was being asked to acquiesce in their

use and did not have the whole picture

so I said about to remedy the the

balance there excerpts of miss Carson's

remedy Silent Spring first appeared in

The New Yorker magazine on June 16th

1962

then Houghton Mifflin company published

a complete text and Rachel Carson's

attack was launched chapter 2 the

obligation to endure it is not my

contention that chemical insecticides

must never be used

I do contend that we have put poisonous

and biologically potent chemicals

indiscriminately into the hands of

persons largely or wholly ignorant of

their potentials for harm I contend

furthermore that we have allowed these

chemicals to be used with little or no

advanced investigation of their effect

on soil water wildlife and man himself

chapter 6 the Earth's green mantle many

herbs shrubs and trees of forest and

range depend on native insects for their

reproduction without these plants many

wild animals and range stock would find

little food

now clean cultivation and the chemical

destruction of hedgerows and weeds are

eliminating the last sanctuaries of

these pollinating insects and breaking

the threads that bind life

to life chapter 7 needless haven't we

poisoned the catus flies in the stream

and the salmon rums dwindle and die we

poison the gnats in a lake and the

poison travels from link to link of the

food chain and soon the birds of the

lake margins become it's big

we spray our Elms and the following

Springs are silent of robbing song not

because we sprayed the Robbins directly

but because the poison traveled

step-by-step through the now-familiar

elm leaf earthworm robbing cycle when

the public protests confronted with some

obvious evidence of damaging results of

pesticide applications it is fed little

tranquillizing pills of half-truth we

urgently need an end to these false

assurances to the sugar coating of

unpalatable facts chapter 16 the

rumblings of an avalanche spraying kills

off the weaklings inevitably it follows

that intensive spraying with powerful

chemicals only makes worse the problem

it is designed to solve the list of

resistant species now includes all the

insect groups of medical importance

beyond the dreams of the Borgias so

thoroughly has the age of poisons become

established that any one may walk into a

store and without questions being asked

by substances of far greater

death-dealing power than the medicinal

drug for which he may be required to

sign a poison book in the pharmacy next

door in river or lake or reservoir or

for that matter in the glass of water

served at your dinner table are mingled

chemicals that no responsible chemist

would think of combining in his

laboratory and there are so called

tolerances which permit small residues

of most of these chemicals to occur on

food the human price with always said

about the hazards of the fan of

gardening by poisons or insecticides

used in the home the sudden illness or

death of farmers spray men and others

exposed to appreciable quantities of

pesticides are tragic and should not

occur but for the population as a whole

we must be more concerned with the

delayed effects of absorbing small

amounts of the pesticides that in

visibly contaminate our world we have to

remember the children born today are

exposed to these chemicals from birth

perhaps even before birth now what is

going to happen to them in adult life as

a result of that exposure we simply

don't know because we never before had

this kind of experience now we know from

experiments on animals that many of

these chemicals accumulate and body

tissues we know that some are liver

poisons others are nerve poisons and for

still others we have evidence that they

produce mutations and in various other

ways are exceedingly dangerous materials

now all of these things even any one of

them together would be ample cause for

caution but I think added together they

mean that unless we do bring these

chemicals under better control we are

certainly headed for disaster Silent

Spring became the book-of-the-month club

selection for October naturalist and

Supreme Court Justice William O Douglas

said Silent Spring is the most important

chronicle of this century for the human

race the New York Times reported the men

who make the pesticides are crying foul

and companies are preparing briefs in

defense of their products now although

there are a number of scientific errors

missed quotations and obvious

misinterpretations in her book it must

be admitted that much of her material is

in part at least scientifically accurate

the area of disagreement between miss

Carson and students have applied

agricultural chemistry however will lie

in her clearly misplaced emphasis she

discounts and deliberately depreciates

all those safety measures which research

laborious Lee has developed and built

into each new agricultural chemical that

emerges while she concomitant playbills

the possible and alleged hazards of

these compounds to horrible and simply

staggering diamond

Time magazine agreed it called miss

Carson's book and emotional and

inaccurate outburst but the majority of

magazines and newspaper reviews and

editorials were favorable a New York

Times editorial suggested that miss

Carson would be as deserving of the

Nobel Prize as was the inventor of DDT

if her book helped to arouse enough

public concern to immunize government

agencies against the blandishments of

the hucksters and enforces adequate

controls Silent Spring did have an

impact in Washington after food and drug

administration Commissioner George

Larrick said I think very definitely it

had an impact on the Food and Drug

Administration I think it causes all of

us to take a new look at our

responsibilities to the general public

at the Department of Agriculture

Secretary Freeman let's say the book I

believe will have helped the American

people in alerting them that we need to

do more work but we also need to be

personally conscious this is like

anything else the government isn't going

to do it for you somebody else isn't

going to do it for you basically gonna

have to do it for yourself and that

means to protect yourself and that means

to see to it that your government

protects you or you can't protect

yourself during the past years do you

think that the public was sufficiently

praised of the potential hazards of

pesticides the answer I could say very

quickly is no at his press conference on

August 29th 1962 President Kennedy was

asked to be going concern among

scientists that the possibility of

dangerous long-range side effects from

the widespread use of DDT and other

pesticides

have you considered asking the

Department of Agriculture or the Public

Health Service to take a closer look at

this yes and I know that they already

are I think particularly of course miss

Carson sport but they are examining the

matter the next day the administration

announced that the government pesticide

program would be reviewed by the Federal

Council on science and technology and by

a panel of the president's Science

Committee CBS reports the Silent Spring

of Rachel

Carson will continue charges and

counter-charges have been made but the

glare of controversy tended to obscure

acknowledgement on all sides that a

pesticide problem does exist how serious

this problem may be is at issue we shall

attempt now to present some facts

present to the issue which are not

disputed first according to the Public

Health Service at least 150 persons died

in this nation every year as a result of

acute pesticide poisoning but a

tabulation of deaths from pesticides has

not been made since 1956 7 years ago the

total number of injuries or illnesses

caused by pesticides each year is

unknown last year California reported

850 workers injured through the use of

pesticides occasional careless use of

pesticides on food crops also has

resulted in acute poisoning of consumers

George Larry Commissioner Food and Drug

Administration we have had instances of

acute poisoning where somebody would use

an unauthorized amount very greatly

exceeding the tolerance or use a

pesticide on a crop where they were not

authorized to use it at all and in those

instances we have had acute poisoning

episodes fortunately these instances are

rare but they're the sort of thing that

we've all got to watch out for with

great care do they bring nightmares to

the Food and Drug Administration with

thoughts of this kind well they bring

great concern I will assure you I have I

don't think in all honesty that the

controls that were able to exercise

today are truly sufficient in the light

of the growing technology and the

growing use of pesticides in this field

what part of the reason for that be the

use of widespread spraying for example

from airplanes yes because of air drift

and wind changes as much as 80% of a

pesticide sprayed from a plane may miss

the target and according to government

experts on occasion this has caused and

Rize contamination of food crops or

animal fodder

it is also conceded that the use of

pesticides has resulted in some damage

to fish and wildlife speaking for

industry dr. white Stevens it is to be

admitted that in certain cases the use

of pesticides on a large scale have

reduced certain species of our wildlife

in those areas however in general the

wildlife has quickly recovered and the

impact of these pesticides upon wildlife

is really quite insignificant dr. John

Buckley director United States Fish &

Wildlife Research Center I think there

is no doubt that the use of pesticides

has resulted in the extensive damage to

wildlife we can't measure this on a

continent-wide basis but wherever we

have conducted careful studies we have

had losses that averaged 80% or more

could any of this damage have been

avoided I think that some of this damage

could have been avoided but there's a

great deal of this which was the result

of carefully carried out programs and

given the present methods and materials

that we have it could not have been

avoided on the other hand some of it

certainly was a result of accident or

the result of miscalculation where we

plan not to treat so close to streams as

we in fact did treat other things of

this sort that our water contains

pesticides also is uncontested pesticide

water pollution studies are being

conducted by dr. Paige Nicholson of the

United States Public Health Service

we've learned that pesticides can be

flushed off the land following intense

under showers in sufficient quantities

to destroy aquatic life this is usually

made obvious by floating dead fish in

the vicinity we've also learned that

pesticides can be leached off the soil

over considerable periods of time in

sub-lethal quantities this has been

observed more or less year around in our

study areas are we routinely ingesting

pesticides in our drinking water in some

instances yes well have you found in

drinking water any pesticide whose

residue is not permitted on food crops

because that residue is considered to be

too toxic for human ingestion we've

found one insecticide belonging to the

chlorinated hydrocarbon group are there

any indications that there may be other

pesticides in this class that are also

in our water there may be but we've made

no survey of the field to determine this

the Food and Drug Administration

prohibits any pesticide residues in milk

because milk may be the main diet of

infants of course being tested every day

does the Public Health Service have any

regulations limiting pesticide residues

in water

no there's not that in milk one

insecticide has been found occasionally

also is a fact

George Larrick commissioner United

States Food and Drug Administration

there are there are extremely Manute

traces of DDT found occasionally in in

milk but those amounts are almost down

to the infinite in in the quantity but

we have never set a tolerance for DDT in

milk and our objective is to keep

pesticides generally out of milk which

has a very special status in our food

supply and the food for babies that in

the fan or tissues of fish wildlife and

man there may be an accumulation and

storage of some pesticide residues is

not contested dr. weiland haze

toxicologist Public Health Service all

chemicals that are absorbed or stored to

some extent but some of them are

excreted very rapidly now all of the

chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides are

stored for a long while that pesticide

storage has adversely affected the

growth and reproduction of pheasants

ducks and some other game birds also is

a fact recently established dr. Buckley

of the United States Fish and Wildlife

Service

we have found a reduction in the number

of eggs laid a reduction of the

fertility of the eggs that are laid a

reduction in the number that hatch from

these which were fertile a reduction in

the number of viable chicks that are

produced from the eggs that do hatch and

lastly an increased percentage of

cripples among the young which do hatch

in this case not only does it affect

reproduction but if you'll notice these

pheasants here this is a normal male

pheasant you can see the white band on

the neck

this is a male pheasant whose diet

included about a hundred and twenty five

parts per million of one of the

chlorinated hydrocarbons this male has

none of the normal Pullman's

characteristics that you find in the

normal male pheasant

this you notice has plumage which is

typically that of the female and one

other thing I should point out on this

too is that is that the levels that do

this are much below the level which will

produce death and this is true not alone

of the insecticides but also this is

true of some of our common herbicides

you know where at levels as low as 1/4

that necessary to kill will adversely

affect the ability to reproduce finally

what has happened to the insects more

than a hundred and thirty seven

different species of insects have become

resistant to some insecticides this is

the reason for producing new chemicals

each year to which the insects are not

resistant Jay McMullen asks dr. white

Stevens why is it necessary to produce

pesticides that are a potential hazard

to people well of course the problem is

that we have to kill the insect we do

everything we possibly can to produce

compounds which are toxic to insects but

not particularly toxic to animals this

is a very difficult thing to do because

living processes are fairly common to

all creatures miss Carson contends that

pesticide chemicals are used without

sufficient knowledge of their effects on

man and

environment yet according to industry

each new pesticide that reaches the

market undergoes from three to five

years of experimentation costing as much

as two and a half million dollars pilot

field tests must prove the pesticide

utility to the Department of Agriculture

the Food and Drug Administration must

review all experimental data on animal

tests and certify that the pesticide can

be used safely if label directions are

followed despite all this do we know

enough about the effects of pesticides

McMullen question dr. Paige Nicholson

water pollution expert Public Health

Service do you know how long the

pesticides persist in the water once

they get into it not entirely do you

know the extent to which our groundwater

may be contaminated right now by

pesticides we don't know that either nor

do we know if concentration may be

occurring in groundwater do you know the

effect of long-term exposure of

pesticides on aquatic life not

completely do you know how pesticides

may interact with in water organisms

this too is an area where we need to

know more what remains to be known about

the effects of pesticides on birds and

other wildlife dr. John Buckley director

United States Fish & Wildlife Research

Center proportionally we've just barely

made a dent in life in this whole field

of knowledge we've examined something

like sixty compounds out of the several

hundred that are in common use we've

examined their effects and not many more

than a dozen species and yet there are

well over a thousand species of birds

alone while birds and mammals that we're

concerned with there are many kinds of

fish that we're concerned with and yet

it's only a few of these that we've

looked at at all in addition we'd like

to know the levels of residues of most

of the common pesticides throughout the

total environment we find them on birds

for example taken from almost any place

and it's most unusual to find a fish

sample from any place that doesn't

contain a detectable residue we need to

know the rate at which these are taken

up

the rate at which they're eliminated the

length of time and they stay the part of

the organism they affect whether they

for example we find concentrations of

certain of these in the brain tissue and

liver tissue in the testes in the breast

muscle just widely scattered through the

animal largely tied up in the fats of

the animal wherever they may be do you

need to know then how these

concentrations affect these particular

organs the brain the liver yes we need

to know the effects of these these

compounds on each of these organs or the

conversely the lack of effect but we

need to know what we need to answer the

question so what when we find this

material here what does it mean and this

this I don't think we know well for any

compound in any individual burden

finally how does ingestion and long-term

storage of pesticides affect the human

body only a few human experiments have

been made dr. Luther Terry Surgeon

General United States Public Health

Service one of the things that has

caused considerable concern to us with

relation to insecticides and pesticides

is the question of what happens with

low-level long range exposure of human

beings to these substances and the

question is for instance with the

chlorinated hydrocarbons when they do

accumulate in the fat of man does this

do any harm at what level must the

accumulation reach to be harmful to

man's held earlier in this program a

Public Health Service toxicologist

stated there is no evidence that the

small doses of pesticides we get are

causing harm but is there no evidence as

a result of investigation or is there no

evidence because no investigation has

been made the total number of pesticides

studied by the Public Health Service for

cumulative effects on humans

3

in Silent Spring miss Carson stresses

the possibility that pesticide chemicals

may be working harm in man in ways as

yet undetected

perhaps contributing to cancer leukemia

genetic damage in the absence of proof

her critics can see that these are

possibilities but not probabilities and

they accused miss Carson of alarmism

yet few scientists deny that some risk

may be involved Jay McMullen asked dr.

Hart during staff member of the

president's science committee if the

growth and reproduction of wildlife is

adversely affected by pesticides may man

also be affected in similar ways the

answer this question is not easy there

is no direct relationship between

wildlife and man but there is an

indirect relation and to be prudent we

must assume that this reaction could be

taking place in man that there could be

an effect on reproduction we need to

study this to determine whether in fact

this is true or not it is true that some

pesticide residues on food originally

thought to be safe for human ingestion

later proved to be unsafe Commissioner

Larrick of the Food and Drug

Administration we discovered for example

that certain class of pesticides had an

adverse effect on what we call chlorine

s trace which is the chemical in the

body that has to do with nerve impulses

and we discovered that this was an

effect that was cumulative if you had

two of the chemicals of the same general

class you had perhaps more than double

the harm so we had to take that new fact

into account and we stopped allowing any

more tolerances with any of those till

we had figured out that relationship but

fortunately the action was taken before

I think any harm was done to the public

the FDA also discovered through improved

means of measurement that residues of

some pesticides permitted on food crops

for many years were in fact too toxic

for human consumption still other

pesticides were found to cause cancer in

laboratory animals

and were banned from further use on food

but the FDA admits that two pesticides

presently permitted on food have caused

tumors in experimental animals at issue

is whether or not any pesticide residues

should be permitted on food sent to

market here is miss Carson's

recommendation for some chemicals where

small residues were permitted a few

years ago now with increasing knowledge

it has been necessary to reduce the

tolerance to zero now in my feeling if

that can be done for some it can be done

for all J McMullen put this question to

dr. Arnold layman chief toxicologist

Food and Drug Administration for some

pesticides you set a zero tolerance

meaning that no residue of those

pesticides may be present on crops when

they're marketed why not set zero

tolerances for all pesticides

I wish I could answer that question and

the happy mood but I can't because the

insects won't cooperate some insects

wait until the crop is mature and then

attack the mature crop and nature

provides the time of the appearance of

the insects when their food crop is at

its best in other words you might have

to use the pesticide very soon before

the crop is being harvested because it's

being attacked that is right and

consequently then the pesticide residue

will be on the crop there's no way of

getting rid of it that's right you mean

that is right

interstate shipments of food containing

pesticide residues either unauthorized

or exceeding the amount permitted by law

may be seized by inspectors of the Food

and Drug Administration and destroyed

but our consumers adequately protected

by the FDA miss Carson at the present

time the Food and Drug Administration is

greatly overburdened it has a very

inadequate staff for checking the

shipments that move from one state to

another now obviously they need a great

deal more money they need a great deal a

great many more inspectors FDA

Commissioner George Larrick we have been

sampling about 1/3

1% of the shipments that move in

interstate commerce this year Congress

has given us enough money so that we

hope to sample 1% of the shipments but I

do not think that's enough another

recommendation I feel very strongly

about is that we should have legislation

requiring that these pesticide chemicals

be thoroughly tested for a genetic

effect before they're put on the market

now we certainly have had tragic warning

in the recent months that drugs can

cause serious malformations and other

defects in generations yet unborn

now pesticides may well have the same

effect

doctor layman of the Food and Drug

Administration I have talked to

geneticists about this problem and in

order to establish the genetic effect

they tell me that the test must go

through at least 20 generations our

man's generation is about 25 years that

would take 500 years to test that on a

man you don't have to test these on

generations of human beings you can test

them on laboratory animals the same sort

of organisms that have been used

successfully for many years to determine

genetic effect in spite of her view that

present pesticide safeguards are

inadequate miss Carson does not advocate

discontinuing the use of pesticides

immediately instead she proposes a

gradual shift to other methods of pest

control we must go on to think in terms

of other methods of control of much more

scientific much more accurate and

precise methods and these do lie in the

field of biological controls speaking

for industry dr. white Stevens

the trouble with biological control is

that it's far too specific one predator

eating only one insect when it shouldn't

we need to control 20 on a given crop it

is usually too late the predator doesn't

arrive until

time as the pest has already ravaged the

problem this isn't just a matter of

setting the insects to eating each other

as many people suppose biological

controls might involve something like

sterilizing large numbers of the insect

that you desire to be rid of these

sterile males will then meet with the

wild insects and in time compete so

successfully that the population will be

wiped out it might mean also the use of

natural secretions of the insects as

lures which would draw them perhaps into

traps containing poisons all of these

methods are being experimented with some

of the great deal of promise J McMullen

asked Secretary of Agriculture Orville

Freeman are you in favor of more

research in the field of biological

controls yes indeed I think this is the

direction in which it should move and

the direction in which it is

increasingly moving a vibe money is the

Department of Agriculture spending

annually for Biological life in the

biological and environmental control

area we are presently spending about a

million and a half dollars a year in

research this figure compares with the

two million dollar figure which industry

says it costs them to produce just one

pesticide are you asking for more funds

for Biological control we're moving

we're asking for all the funds that we

can effectively use in this area and

giving it very very strong emphasis

there's a good deal of pioneering

research going forward and we are

continuing to give it very strong

emphasis the research insofar as

pesticides are concerned the money for

that comes from industry the money for

Biological control must come from whom

much come from the taxpayer producer

reporter J McMullen spent eight months

investigating the issues involved in the

pesticide problem this report continues

in

his words eight months ago we set out to

determine just how serious the pesticide

problem really is in that attempt we

have failed

without sufficient facts there can be no

meaningful conclusion to review on this

report scientist after scientist has

pointed to an appalling scarcity of

facts concerning the effects of

pesticides on man and his environment

you have heard that statistics on

fatalities or non-fatal accidents or

illnesses caused by pesticides are

either non-existent or incomplete what

about the cumulative and long-range

effects of pesticides are these

chemicals causing genetic damage or

contributing to cancer or leukemia

without research there is no evidence

without evidence there is no answer

should we be alarmed when the

Commissioner of the United States Food

and Drug Administration states flatly as

he did on this program that pesticide

controls are inadequate should we be

alarmed that we are ingesting some

pesticides that have affected

reproduction or caused tumors and

laboratory animals we don't know the

answers to these questions eight months

ago the president's science committee

began its investigation but up to now no

report has been issued and CBS News has

learned that dissension among government

agencies is delaying that report in

Silent Spring miss Carson said it is the

public that is being asked to assume the

risks that the insect controllers

calculate the public must decide whether

it wishes to continue on the present

road and it can do so only when in full

possession of the facts in the words of

Jean rust on the obligation to endure

gives us the right to know finally it

would seem that the basic arguments

between miss Carson and her critics

transcend the specific pesticide issue

for they involve a conflict of attitude

toward man's role in his environment and

his attempts to control and manipulate

nature for his own benefit dr. white

Stevens the tracks the forum of

the argument chiefly arrests is that

Miss Carson maintains that the balance

of nature is a major force in the

survival of man whereas the modern

chemist the modern biologists the model

scientist believes that man is steadily

controlling nature that he has already

disrupted the balance of nature by his

over burgeoning numbers his cities and

his airports in his roads and the way of

his life now to these people apparently

the the balance of nature was something

that was repealed as soon as man came on

the scene well you might just as well

assume that you could repeal the law of

gravity the balance of nature is built

of a series of interrelationships

between living things and between living

things in their environment you can't

just step in with some brute force and

change one thing without changing that

many others now this doesn't mean of

course that we must never interfere but

we must not attempt to tilt that balance

of nature in our favor but we do make

this attempt we must know what we're

doing we must know the consequences

man's attitude toward nature is today

critically important simply because we

have now acquired a fateful power to

alter and to destroy nature but man is a

part of nature and his war against

nature is inevitably a war against

himself the rains have become an

instrument to bring down from the

atmosphere the deadly products of atomic

explosions water which is probably our

most important natural resource is now

used and reused with incredible

recklessness now I truly believe that we

in this generation must come to terms

with nature and I think we're challenged

mankind has never been challenged before

to prove our maturity and our mastery

not of nature but of ourselves