It might seem strange to honor a marine biologist and an individual that spent a great portion of her career fighting against large chemical companies at a symposium dedicated to women that enhanced the field of chemistry in remarkable ways. However, the courageous work of Rachel Carson inspired chemists to become more conscientious, the government to consider instigating regulations and the Environmental Protection Agency, and the formation of disciplines such as environmental biology and chemistry as well as Industrial Hygiene. Rachel Louise Carson used her skills as a scientist to collect data and evidence that illustrated the misuse and overuse of pesticides, particularly, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Additionally, she employed her talent as a <i>New York Times bestseller</i> author to publish her findings in the 1962 book <i>Silent Spring</i>. After defending her findings, in May 1963, Rachel Carson appeared before the Department of Commerce and requested the establishment of a “Pesticide Commission” to regulate the use of DDT. Ten years later, the “Pesticide Commission” became the Environmental Protection Agency, which immediately banned DDT. Presented here is an investigation of the various pesticides analyzed by Rachel Carson and the concentration levels identified in the soil, water, and bird specimens. Additionally, her progressive ideas to combat the use of pesticides via more natural methods and a move away from single crop farming is included. The image and the public perception of chemists and chemistry is an evolving entity. Directly and indirectly, Rachel Carson was instrumental in promoting Green Chemistry Practices and Environmental Chemistry. Her interdisciplinary contributions as a scientist, author, and humanitarian make her an excellent candidate for the Nobel Prize.

Birth of environmental chemistry: Rachel Carson, the courageous author and scientist that gave rise to the EPA

254th National Meeting (2017)

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