The Pesticide Conspiracy - Softcover

Van Den Bosch, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0520068238 ISBN 13: 9780520068230

Publisher: University of California Press, 1989

Synopsis

Professor van den Bosch of the University of California was one of the developers of Integrated Pest Management—the use of biological controls, improved pest knowledge and observation, and judicious application of chemicals only when absolutely necessary. His research often suggested that less or no pesticides should be applied, which made him the target of both open and clandestine attack from industry and government figures. In protest, he wrote this passionate account of what Ecology called "the ultimate social disaster of: evolving pesticide-resistant insects, the destruction of their natural predators and parasites, emergent populations of new insect pests, downstream water pollution, atmospheric pollution, the 'accidental' killing of wildlife and people, and the bankruptcies of indigenous and small farmers."

As a new Introduction to this edition recounts, some lessening of dangerous overreliance on massive pesticide applications has been achieved since van den Bosch published this book in 1978—partly as a result of its influence. But the structural problems he described remain. The book has thus become a classic, along with Rachel Carson's Silent Spring.

About this title

Review:

"Buy this book; study this book; perhaps the conspiracy will so anger you that you will exercise your American right to protest being poisoned."--"El Paso Times

From the Back Cover:

Originally published in 1978, 'The Pesticide Conspiracy, ' like Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring, ' documents these consequences and should be read by all who concern themselves with our environmental legacy to future generations.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0520068238
• ISBN 13: 9780520068230
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 248