'Silent Spring' 60 years later: 4 essential reads on pesticides and the environment From the 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow series Jennifer Weeks, Senior Environment + Energy Editor, The Conversation Oct 15, 2022 Oct 15, 2022 Updated Jan 13, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Spraying from either a ground-based vehicle or an airplane is a common method for applying pesticides. Edwin Remsburg/VW Pics via Getty ImageskAmx? `hea 6?G:C@?>6?E2= D4:6?E:DE #2496= r2CD@? AF3=:D965 “k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]C2496=42CD@?]@C8^$:=6?E$AC:?8]2DAIQm$:=6?E $AC:?8k^2m[” 2 36DED6==:?8 3@@< E92E 2DD6CE65 E92E @G6CFD6 @7 A6DE:4:56D H2D 92C>:?8 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 E9C62E6?:?8 9F>2? 962=E9] r2CD@? 5:5 ?@E 42== 7@C 32??:?8 ss%[ E96 >@DE H:56=J FD65 A6DE:4:56 2E E92E E:>6[ 3FE D96 2C8F65 7@C FD:?8 :E 2?5 D:>:=2C AC@5F4ED >F49 >@C6 D6=64E:G6=J 2?5 A2J:?8 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96:C 67764ED @? ?@?E2C86E65 DA64:6D]k^Am People are also reading… Nebraska requests exemption from Medicaid work requirements in Dawson County Kaden Barkmeier pitches no-hitter in Lexington's shut out of Broken Bow Holiday Inn Express & Suites joins Lexington community with ribbon cutting Johnson Lake tests positive for E. Coli bacteria Lexington City Council unanimously approves rezoning Adrian Gomez Ramos joins Nebraska Community Foundation Cattlemen’s Ball transforms Dawson County pasture into gathering place for hope Gov. Pillen, farmers, ranchers and ag industry supporters celebrate passage of LB 525 Planning Commission recommends denial of Pentecostal church conditional use permit; board concerned about parking overflow Crossroads Mission Avenue invites community to open house for new transitional housing facility in Lexington Float to the fire kayak event in Kearney Three Lexington boys soccer players competed in Foals for Life Soccer Showcase in Omaha Treyvan Berry and Maylin Novoa win Mingus and Ramsey awards Lexington juniors top Imperial 15-5 Wednesday at home Gothenburg woman charged with felony child abuse and sexual assault of a child kAm“$:=6?E $AC:?8” :D H:56=J G:6H65 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_`a^_h^ab^>282K:?6^9@H\D:=6?E\DAC:?8\:8?:E65\E96\6?G:C@?>6?E2=\>@G6>6?E]9E>=Qm2? :?DA:C2E:@? 7@C E96 >@56C? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= >@G6>6?Ek^2m] %96D6 2CE:4=6D 7C@> %96 r@?G6CD2E:@?’D 2C49:G6 DA@E=:89E @?8@:?8 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE A6DE:4:56D 2?5 E96:C 67764ED]k^Amk9am`] p82:?DE 23D@=FE6Dk^9amkAmp=E9@F89 E96 496>:42= :?5FDECJ 2EE24<65 “$:=6?E $AC:?8” 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A6?8F:?C2?5@>9@FD6]4@>^3@@<D^`f_ccg^@?\2\72CE96C\D9@C6\3J\H:==:2>\D@F56C^Qm2?E:\D4:6?46 2?5 2?E:\AC@8C6DDk^2m[ r2CD@? 36=:6G65 E92E 496>:42=D 925 E96:C A=246 :? 28C:4F=EFC6] $96 “72G@C65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H@F=5\C2496=\42CD@?\62E\@C82?:4\hchefQm2 C6DEC2:?65 FD6 @7 A6DE:4:56D[ 3FE ?@E 2 4@>A=6E6 6=:>:?2E:@?k^2m[ 2?5 5:5 ?@E @AA@D6 ;F5:4:@FD FD6 @7 >2?F724EFC65 76CE:=:K6CD[” HC:E6D w2CG2C5 &?:G6CD:EJ DFDE2:?23:=:EJ D49@=2C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H47:2]92CG2C5]65F^A6@A=6^C@36CE\=\A22C=36C8Qm#@36CE !22C=36C8k^2m]k^Am kAm%9:D 2AAC@249 AFE r2CD@? 2E @55D H:E9 E96 7=658=:?8 @C82?:4 >@G6>6?E[ H9:49 E@E2==J C6;64E65 DJ?E96E:4 A6DE:4:56D 2?5 76CE:=:K6CD] t2C=J @C82?:4 25G@42E6D 4=2:>65 r2CD@? 2D 2 DFAA@CE6C ?@?6E96=6DD[ 3FE r2CD@? <6AE E96> 2E 2C>’D =6?8E9] “%96 @C82?:4 72C>:?8 >@G6>6?E H2D DFDA64E :? r2CD@?’D 6J6D 3642FD6 >@DE @7 :ED 62C=J =6256CD H6C6 ?@E D4:6?E:DED[” !22C=36C8 @3D6CG6D]k^AmkAm%9:D 5:G6C86?46 92D 649@6D E@52J :? 5632E6D 23@FE H96E96C @C82?:4 AC@5F4E:@? @C DE625J :>AC@G6>6?ED :? 4@?G6?E:@?2= 72C>:?8 92G6 >@C6 A@E6?E:2= E@ 7665 2 8C@H:?8 H@C=5 A@AF=2E:@?]k^Am k9C ^m kAmk6>mkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H@F=5\C2496=\42CD@?\62E\@C82?:4\hchefQm(@F=5 #2496= r2CD@? 62E @C82?:4nk^2mk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Amk9C ^mk9ama] r@?46C?65 4C@A5FDE6CDk^9amkAm(6== 367@C6 “$:=6?E $AC:?8” H2D AF3=:D965[ 2 4C@A\5FDE:?8 :?5FDECJ 56G6=@A65 @? E96 vC62E !=2:?D :? E96 J62CD 27E6C (@C=5 (2C xx E@ 2AA=J ?6H=J 4@>>6C4:2=:K65 A6DE:4:56D] “r96>:42= 4@>A2?:6D >256 3C@25 AC@>:D6D 23@FE E96D6 ‘>:C24=6’ AC@5F4ED[ H:E9 =:EE=6 5:D4FDD:@? @7 C:D<D] qFE A:=@ED 2?5 D4:6?E:DED E@@< k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^72C>6CD\2?5\4C@A5FDE:?8\A:=@ED\@?\E96\8C62E\A=2:?D\H@CC:65\23@FE\A6DE:4:56\C:D<D\367@C6\D:=6?E\DAC:?8\h`hfeQm2 >F49 >@C6 42FE:@FD 2AAC@249k^2m[” C64@F?ED &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\z62C?6J 9:DE@C:2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6Clbf<3zb|ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?Qms2G:5 '2:=k^2m]k^Am kAmpD '2:=’D C6D62C49 D9@HD[ >2?J 4C@A\5FDE:?8 A:=@ED 2?5 F?:G6CD:EJ 28C:4F=EFC2= D4:6?E:DED H6C6 H6== 2H2C6 @7 9@H =:EE=6 E96J <?6H 23@FE 9@H E96D6 ?6H E@@=D 24EF2==J H@C<65] %96J 2EE6?565 4@?76C6?46D[ 5632E65 AC24E:46D 7@C 2AA=J:?8 A6DE:4:56D 2?5 @C82?:K65 7=:89E D49@@=D E92E E2F89E 28C:4F=EFC2= D4:6?46 2=@?8 H:E9 DAC2J:?8 E649?:BF6D] (96? “$:=6?E $AC:?8” H2D AF3=:D965[ >2?J @7 E96D6 AC24E:E:@?6CD AFD965 324<[ 2C8F:?8 E92E E96J 925 56G6=@A65 DEC2E68:6D 7@C >2?28:?8 A6DE:4:56 C:D<D]k^Am Archival footage of crop-dusters spraying in California in the 1950s. kAm%@52J 26C:2= DAC2J:?8 :D DE:== AC24E:465 @? E96 vC62E !=2:?D[ 3FE :E’D 2=D@ 4=62C E92E :?D64ED 2?5 H665D C2A:5=J 6G@=G6 C6D:DE2?46 E@ 6G6CJ ?6H 86?6C2E:@? @7 A6DE:4:56D[ EC2AA:?8 72C>6CD @? H92E '2:= 42==D “2 496>:42=\A6DE EC625>:==]” r2CD@? 2?E:4:A2E65 E9:D 67764E :? “$:=6?E $AC:?8[” 2?5 42==65 7@C >@C6 C6D62C49 :?E@ 2=E6C?2E:G6 A6DE 4@?EC@= >6E9@5D – 2? 2AAC@249 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD52]8@G^@46^A6DE^:?E68C2E65\A6DE\>2?286>6?EQm92D 364@>6 >2:?DEC62> E@52Jk^2m]k^Am k9C ^mkAmk6>mkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^72C>6CD\2?5\4C@A5FDE:?8\A:=@ED\@?\E96\8C62E\A=2:?D\H@CC:65\23@FE\A6DE:4:56\C:D<D\367@C6\D:=6?E\DAC:?8\h`hfeQmu2C>6CD 2?5 4C@A5FDE:?8 A:=@ED @? E96 vC62E !=2:?D H@CC:65 23@FE A6DE:4:56 C:D<D 367@C6 V$:=6?E $AC:?8Vk^2mk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Amk9C ^m Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts k9amb] %96 @DAC6J’D 4C2D9 2?5 C64@G6CJk^9am kAmx? “$:=6?E $AC:?8[” r2CD@? 56D4C:365 :? 56E2:= 9@H 49=@C:?2E65 9J5C@42C3@? A6DE:4:56D A6CD:DE65 :? E96 6?G:C@?>6?E =@?8 27E6C E96J H6C6 DAC2J65[ C:D:?8 E9C@F89 E96 7@@5 492:? 2?5 3F:=5:?8 FA :? E96 3@5:6D @7 AC652E@CD] !@AF=2E:@?D @7 7:D9\62E:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C2AE@C]F>?]65F^23@FE\C2AE@CD^=62C?\23@FE\C2AE@CDQmC2AE@CDk^2m[ DF49 2D 32=5 628=6D 2?5 @DAC6JD[ H6C6 C2G2865 3J E96D6 496>:42=D[ H9:49 E9:??65 E96 D96==D @7 E96 3:C5D’ 688D D@ E92E E96J 3C@<6 :? E96 ?6DE 367@C6 E96J 4@F=5 92E49]k^Am kAm“&A E@ `hd_[ @DAC6JD H6C6 @?6 @7 E96 >@DE H:56DAC625 2?5 23F?52?E 92H<D :? }@CE9 p>6C:42[” HC:E6D r@C?6== &?:G6CD:EJ C6D62C49 2DD@4:2E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^24256>J]2==23@FE3:C5D]@C8^A6CD@?^2=2?\A@@=6^Qmp=2? !@@=6k^2m] “qJ E96 >:5\`he_D[ E96 ?F>36C @7 @DAC6JD 3C665:?8 2=@?8 E96 pE=2?E:4 4@2DE 36EH66? }6H *@C< r:EJ 2?5 q@DE@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^@DAC6JD\C64@G6CJ\7C@>\A@==FE:@?\2?5\D9@@E:?8\:D\2\8=@32=\4@?D6CG2E:@?\DF446DD\DE@CJ\```h_fQm925 72==6? 3J h_Tk^2m]”k^Am kAmq2?D @? ss% 2?5 @E96C 9:89=J A6CD:DE6?E A6DE:4:56D @A6?65 E96 5@@C E@ C64@G6CJ] qFE 3J E96 `hf_D[ >2?J 7@C>6C @DAC6J ?6DE:?8 D:E6D 925 366? 56G6=@A65] %@ 4@>A6?D2E6[ 4@?46C?65 ?2EFC2=:DED 3F:=E ?6DE:?8 A@=6D 2=@?8 D9@C6=:?6D] ~DAC6JD 2=D@ =62C?65 E@ 4@=@?:K6 =:89E A@DED[ 46== E@H6CD 2?5 @E96C 9F>2?\>256 DECF4EFC6D]k^Am kAm%@52J[ “p=@?8 E96 D9@C6D @7 E96 r96D2A62<6 q2J[ ?62C=J a_[___ @DAC6JD ?@H 2CC:G6 E@ ?6DE 6249 DAC:?8 – E96 =2C86DE 4@?46?EC2E:@? @7 3C665:?8 A2:CD :? E96 H@C=5] %H@\E9:C5D @7 E96> ?6DE @? 3F@JD 2?5 492??6= >2C<6CD >2:?E2:?65 3J E96 &]$] r@2DE vF2C5[ H9@ 92G6 364@>6 56 724E@ @DAC6J 8F2C5:2?D[” HC:E6D !@@=6] “%@ 92G6 C@3FDE ?F>36CD @7 E9:D DA64:6D 324< 282:? :D 2 C6H2C5 7@C 2== H9@ G2=F6 H:=5 2?:>2=D[ 2?5 2 C6>:?56C @7 9@H ?2EFC6 42? C63@F?5 :7 H6 255C6DD E96 <6J E9C62ED]”k^Am k9C ^mkAmk6>mkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^@DAC6JD\C64@G6CJ\7C@>\A@==FE:@?\2?5\D9@@E:?8\:D\2\8=@32=\4@?D6CG2E:@?\DF446DD\DE@CJ\```h_fQm~DAC6JDV C64@G6CJ 7C@> A@==FE:@? 2?5 D9@@E:?8 :D 2 8=@32= 4@?D6CG2E:@? DF446DD DE@CJk^2mk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Am k9C ^mk9amc] }6H 4@?46C?Dk^9amkAm!6DE:4:56 2AA=:42E:@? E649?:BF6D 92G6 364@>6 >F49 >@C6 E2C86E65 :? E96 e_ J62CD D:?46 “$:=6?E $AC:?8” H2D AF3=:D965] ~?6 AC@>:?6?E 6I2>A=6i 4C@A D665D 4@2E65 H:E9 ?6@?:4@E:?@:5D[ E96 H@C=5’D >@DE H:56=J FD65 4=2DD @7 :?D64E:4:56D] r@2E:?8 E96 D665D >2<6D :E A@DD:3=6 E@ :?EC@5F46 A6DE:4:56D :?E@ E96 6?G:C@?>6?E 2E E96 A@:?E H96C6 E96J 2C6 ?66565[ H:E9@FE DAC2J:?8 2 5C@A]k^Am kAmqFE 2 8C@H:?8 3@5J @7 C6D62C49 :?5:42E6D E92E 6G6? E9@F89 4@2E65 D665D 2C6 9:89=J E2C86E65[ >F49 @7 E96:C A6DE:4:56 =@25 H2D96D @77 :?E@ ?62C3J DEC62>D 2?5 =2<6D] “$EF5:6D D9@H E92E ?6@?:4@E:?@:5D 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^72C>6CD\2C6\@G6CFD:?8\:?D64E:4:56\4@2E65\D665D\H:E9\>@F?E:?8\92C>7F=\67764ED\@?\?2EFC6\`fe`_hQmA@:D@?:?8 2?5 <:==:?8 2BF2E:4 :?G6CE63C2E6Dk^2m E92E 2C6 G:E2= 7@@5 D@FC46D 7@C 7:D9[ 3:C5D 2?5 @E96C H:=5=:76[” HC:E6D !6?? $E2E6 6?E@>@=@8:DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6Clpp5+|`&ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?Qmy@9? %@@<6Ck^2m]k^Am k3=@4<BF@E6 4=2DDlQEH:EE6C\EH66EQmkA =2?8lQ6?Q 5:ClQ=ECQmt!p s64:D:@? |2:?E2:?D s2?86C@FD #68F=2E@CJ {@@A9@=6 7@C !6DE:4:56\r@2E65 $665D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E]4@^KG+t{@5bCDQm9EEADi^^E]4@^KG+t{@5bCDk^2mk^AmU>52D9j t?52?86C65 $A64:6D r@2=:E:@? Wo6?52?86C65X k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^6?52?86C65^DE2EFD^`dffegaea`afg_gd`a`nC670DC4lEHDC4TdtE7HQm~4E@36C d[ a_aak^2mk^3=@4<BF@E6m kAmx? >F=E:A=6 DEF5:6D[ %@@<6C 2?5 4@==628F6D 92G6 7@F?5 E92E FD:?8 4@2E65 D665D C65F46D A@AF=2E:@?D @7 36?67:4:2= :?D64ED E92E AC6J @? 4C@A\56DEC@J:?8 A6DED =:<6 D=F8D]k^AmkAm“pD x D66 :E[ ?6@?:4@E:?@:5D 42? AC@G:56 8@@5 G2=F6 :? 4@?EC@==:?8 4C:E:42= A6DE DA64:6D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? G686E23=6 2?5 7CF:E AC@5F4E:@?[ 2?5 >2?28:?8 :?G2D:G6 DA64:6D =:<6 E96 DA@EE65 =2?E6C?7=J] w@H6G6C[ x 36=:6G6 E96 E:>6 92D 4@>6 E@ C6:? :? E96:C FD6 2D D665 4@2E:?8D :? 7:6=5 4C@AD =:<6 4@C? 2?5 D@J362?D[ H96C6 E96J 2C6 AC@G:5:?8 =:EE=6 36?67:E 2?5 H96C6 E96 D42=6 @7 E96:C FD6 :D 42FD:?8 E96 >@DE 4C:E:42= 6?G:C@?>6?E2= AC@3=6>D[” %@@<6C HC:E6D]k^Am k9C ^mkAmk6>mkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^72C>6CD\2C6\@G6CFD:?8\:?D64E:4:56\4@2E65\D665D\H:E9\>@F?E:?8\92C>7F=\67764ED\@?\?2EFC6\`fe`_hQmu2C>6CD 2C6 @G6CFD:?8 :?D64E:4:56\4@2E65 D665D[ H:E9 >@F?E:?8 92C>7F= 67764ED @? ?2EFC6k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^6>mk^Amk9C ^mkAmk6>m%9:D DE@CJ :D 2 C@F?5FA @7 2CE:4=6D 7C@> %96 r@?G6CD2E:@?’D 2C49:G6]k^6>mk^Am kAmk6>m000k^6>mk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^`haaba^4@F?E]8:7Q 2=ElQ%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?Q H:5E9lQ`Q 96:89ElQ`Q ^mk^Am In this Series 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow Updated Aug 22, 2023 Lost touch with someone? Reach out – your friend will likely appreciate it more than you think Updated May 30, 2023 More young voters could come out to vote in November, sparked by abortion and other hot political issues Updated Aug 22, 2023 US abortion restrictions are unlikely to influence international trends, which are largely becoming more liberal 167 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Locations Lincoln Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story 30 green jobs that can help fight climate change Inspired by a list of green jobs in Data for Progress’ report, Stacker explains which occupations are on the front line against climate emergency. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Early morning storms bring wind and hail Watch: Sights and Sounds from Pride in the Park Watch: Sights and Sounds from Pride in the Park Birthright citizenship decision looms as Trump court cases mount Birthright citizenship decision looms as Trump court cases mount GLP-1s and cancer prevention: What’s known and what isn’t GLP-1s and cancer prevention: What’s known and what isn’t
30 green jobs that can help fight climate change Inspired by a list of green jobs in Data for Progress’ report, Stacker explains which occupations are on the front line against climate emergency.