Free Study Guide for Silent Spring by Rachel Carson - Book Summary

CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH ANALYSIS

CHAPTER 11 - Beyond the Dreams of the Borgias

Summary

Most of the contamination of the earth happens not in the massive sprayings of huge government operations but in the small-scale sprayings of individuals. People are subjected daily to small doses of chemical poisoning. This exposure builds up over time until people get diseases and die. People have been trained to accept chemical poisons as safe for use. These chemicals are readily available in all kinds of stores and are packaged in such a way that makes them seem safe.

Chemical poisons are used in every corner of the house. From shelf paper treated with insecticides to lotions rubbed directly onto the skin to paint and varnish which comes pre-treated with poisons, the common household is becoming a dangerous area. No one is telling people of the dangers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture even encourages the use of insecticides in the home, urging people to spray their clothing with oil solutions of DDT, Dieldrin, Chlordane and other moth killers.

Gardening has also become a highly toxic home enterprise. Hardware stores and garden supplies have rows of chemicals for all kinds of specialized uses. No one seems aware of the dangers or the need to use caution and discretion when using them. Even the rapidly lethal organic phosphorous insecticides are readily available for the lawn and for ornamental plants. Finally, in 1960, the Florida State Board of Health forbid the use of pesticides in residential areas by anyone without a permit. They took this action only after a number of deaths by Parathion happened. Most gardeners, however, receive no warning about the dangers of using chemicals. For instance, it’s become popular to apply such chemicals as Chlordane and Dieldrin to the lawn by use of an attachment to the garden hose. This method can hurt the person applying the chemicals and it can also lead to poisoning of the public water supply since......

Notes

Carson names her chapter after the famous Borgia family of Renaissance Italy, who are said to have poisoned their dinner guests. The book has prepared the reader to understand the implications of this chapter. Carson has carefully dealt with all the major chemicals used as.......

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Silent Spring Study Guide - Free BookNotes Summary

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