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The slur against Carson is a myth that got started in the last couple of decades by anti-regulatory think tanks as a way to attack one of the foundations of the

The slur against Carson is a myth that got started in the last couple of decades by anti-regulatory think tanks as a way to attack one of the foundations of the modern environmental movement. It's complete nonsense because 1) DDT spraying is still considered a legitimate method of mosquito (i.e. malaria) control, which was never the main problem anyway - widespread agricultural use was what led to "Silent Spring", and 2) DDT resistance eventually limited its effectiveness even for mosquito control. Read "Merchants of Doubt" if you want the gory details.

philwelch 7y ago
It's possible I was misinformed, then. I'll have to look into this.
- inflatableDodo 7y ago
  The Nixon admin banned DDT in 1972. Just in the USA. Somehow, this got translated into; 'Carson got DDT banned and all malaria deaths are her fault'. This is despite the fact that where there are mosquitos we are still using DDT. https://e360.yale.edu/features/rachel_carsons_critics_keep_on_but_she_told_truth_about_ddt https://e360.yale.edu/features/rachel_carsons_critics_keep_o...
  - the6threplicant 7y ago
    It's the same logic as "If we don't use antibiotics in cattle they'll all die!". Totally ignoring the unintended consequences of antibiotic resistance in humans.
    - simonh 7y ago
      The old "this thing can't possibly work, even though it's done in other countries all over the world just fine" argument.
- dwaltrip 7y ago
  Props for the gracious response and openness to being mistaken. It always inspires me when I see this. Disclaimer: I don't know anything about this particular issue.