Module 4: "Rachel Carson: Sounding the Alarm on Pollution" and "DDT in Breast Milk"

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. conservation
    careful management of the environment and natural resources
    Her 1962 book, "Silent Spring," was probably the most influential work on conservation ever written. It made Americans think hard about pollution of the environment.
  2. pollution
    contamination of the natural environment
    Her 1962 book, "Silent Spring," was probably the most influential work on conservation ever written. It made Americans think hard about pollution of the environment.
  3. synthetic
    not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially
    It made Americans think hard about pollution of the environment. It led to controls on synthetic pesticides.
  4. aerial
    existing, living, growing, or operating in the air
    Thousands of birds had been doomed by aerial spraying of woodlands.
  5. pesticide
    a chemical used to kill destructive insects or animals
    She did not oppose the use of all pesticides. But she wrote, "We have allowed these chemicals to be used with little or no advance investigation of their effect on soil, water, wildlife, and man himself."
  6. sound
    exercising or showing good judgment
    They said the book was scientifically unsound. They dismissed her as a "nature nut," "food faddist," and "just a bird watcher."
  7. monitor
    keep an eye on; keep under surveillance
    Sweden has excellent data from breast milk monitoring studies spanning more than 30 years.
  8. concentration
    the strength of a solution
    Figure 1 shows the marked decrease in the average concentrations of DDT found in Swedish women’s breast milk.
  9. detectable
    capable of being discovered
    Between 1969 and 1995, detectable residue levels decreased 81 percent.
  10. residue
    something left after other parts have been taken away
    Figure 2 shows the declining trend of DDT residues in the former West Germany.
Created on Tue Sep 29 15:14:49 EDT 2020 (updated Tue Sep 29 16:38:29 EDT 2020)

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