What degree(s) did Carson receive? (Learning Objective 2)
Zoology
Biology
Biology and English.
English
What is one health effect that DDT is thought to have on humans? (Learning Objective 1)
Blood thickening (which can result in blood clotting and heart attacks)
Reproductive harm
Blindness
Decreased brain cells, apparent in the declining IQ scores of the US population
What can you infer about the political effects of Rachel Carson's work? (Learning Objective 3)
Her work had few political effects, only social ones.
She saved the lives of thousands of politicians by preventing their deaths by DDT.
She spurred the creation of the political group, Green Party.
She spurred the prohibition of DDT by the US EPA in 1972.
Which one of these is the most appropriate explanation of the economic effect of the prohibition of DDT? (Learning Objective 3)
Because DDT was relatively inexpensive, its ban pushed government to spend more on less dangerous chemicals.
The ban of DDT caused many of the buyers of pesticides to shift to more local businesses.
DDT ban saved the US government millions on medical aid to people with cancer and reproductive problems.
DDT ban pushed farmers everywhere to begin organic farming, which is slightly more expensive than conventional food.
Which of the following is the most direct social result of Rachel Carson's work? (Learning Objective 3)
Preserved natural resources give more opportunities for submersive learning experiences.
The eagle, a highly social animal, has a better chance at survival because of the prohibition of DDT.
There has likely been a slight increase in disease due to the ban of DDT (which killed disease), but a decrease in cancer and reproductive harm.
There is more social interaction amongst environmentalists because of her works to unite people working for the environment.
Based on your knowledge of DDT (Learning Objective 1!), which is logically the most correct statement below about environmental effects of DDT's ban? (Learning Objective 4)
After DDT was banned, people began to see the positive effects of environmentalists, and this eventually led to the creation of the Green Party in 2001. The Green Party now is a pioneer for all environmental efforts.
DDT's overuse and tendency to bioaccumulate and biomagnify led to the endangerment of Bald Eagles, which is still their status today.
DDT's prohibition caused the number of pairs of Bald Eagles to go from 417 in 1963 to 6,000 in 2002 in the Contiguous US.
Ocean pollution of DDT has been reduced from .08 ppm (parts per million) to .07 ppm from 1972 to today, which is consistent with DDT's aquatic half-life.
Based on what you've learned from this site, what can you surmise might be different (negatively and positively) today if DDT had not been used in the mid-20th century?
Greater presence of disease
Lower blood poisoning rates
Smaller crop yield
Reduced reproductive harm
Larger rainforests
More bacteria in our water
Higher IQ scores
Based on the properties of DDT, what can you infer about how other organochlorines are stored? (Learning Objective 1)
They are stored in fatty tissues and tend to be released slowly throughout an organism's lifetime.
They attach themselves to liver cells and mammary glands, which is why feces, urine, and breast milk are contaminated.
They are bioaccumulated in fatty tissues.
They are stored in small doses all throughout the digestive tract, because this is the system through which DDT enters the body.
