On September 27, 1962, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring was published, documenting the environmental damage caused by pesticides, especially DDT. Carson described how chemicals accumulated in food chains and harmed birds, wildlife, and human health. The book sparked widespread public concern and prompted scientific and political debates over pesticide use. It is often credited with helping launch the modern environmental movement in the United States. Silent Spring contributed to the eventual ban of DDT for agricultural use and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
