And this article :

DDT residues persist in trout in some Canadian lakes 70 years after insecticide treatment, often at levels ten times that recommended as safe for the wildlife which consumes the fish. image: A typical Brook Trout sampled for measurement of DDT in its muscle tissue from lakes in New Brunswick, Canada.2 days ago

HCR’s column from yesterday is an amazing overview of the issue.

Every day should be Earth Day.

Yes it should.

That's a great quote from Carson. Thanks for sharing it, and Happy Earth Day.

Thank goodness for Rachel Carson. Also, thank goodness for Gaylord Nelson who was the father of Earth Day. I can't think of anyone today who would say this: "The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats and biodiversity... that's all there is. That's the whole economy. That's where all the economic activity and jobs come from. These biological systems are the sustaining wealth of the world." `Gaylord Nelson

@cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA) I remember my mother read Silent Spring when it came out - it changed her. The wealth of our nation, our air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers etc in our national parks and beyond were just put into the hands of a former oil exec by Sec'y of the Interior Doug Burgum. The anger and sadness I feel is off the charts. We can re-staff agencies, restore funding but once the land, forests and waters are gone, they are gone forever.

I didn’t link to HCR’s column but it’s interesting that the wording is so similar when Nixon called for GREATER regulation of our resources.Burgum said” the wealth of our country lies in its resources”. They are planning on selling everything into private hands . How have we arrived at such a point in this country that absolutely nothing is as important as money… personal wealth.

DLM, I am right there with you. Silent Spring was one of the required books on our summer reading list for ninth grade in 1966 (the other required book was The Lord of the Rings-both changed my life). I am sick at heart about the damage that is/will be done. You are right. We can never get most of it back.

I share the frustration, concern and ... is aghastness a word?

I do want to add a ray of hope? I think we all know of cities and or bodies of water that were polluted and unpleasant when we were growing up, that have taken a remarkable turn for the better. Some (yes not all) things can be regenerated and fixed. Let's hope the grubby hands are not at the helm too long and we can reverse course.

A majority of Americans are concerned about climate change, with 70% believing global warming is happening. While 63% are worried about it, a significant portion, 31%, feel hopeless and 27% are depressed about the issue.

Ah yes...the "great" old days when rivers caught fire!

Mtn I know you are not minimizing but rather looking for hope of any kind - I get it, I do, too. But.... how many generations would have to live through the clean up? Whose health will be impacted? What flora/fauna will we lose, possibly forever? The part that keeps me up at night is knowing that if the National Parks/forests/ historic sites are privatized we will never get them back. Some days I find hope, some days I wallow in despair.

Microplastics are a huge problem in water. I think we are only beginning to know the health effects for humans and wildlife. Saw some content the other day about microplastics and risk of stroke since they stay in the arteries. We've made so much cheap plastic it will be with us forever.