War and Nature: Fighting Humans and Insects with Chemicals from World War I to Silent Spring (Studies in Environment and History)
The 20th century was framed by "a treaty... to limit poison gas in warfare" at its beginning, and one "to eliminate chemical warfare" at its end. Meanwhile, in WWI and WWII, chemical weapons killed approximately 440,000 people (not including those who perished in Nazi gas chambers). In War and Nature: Fighting Humans and Insects with Chemicals from World War I to Silent Spring, Edmund Russell, associate professor of technology, culture and communication at the University of Virginia, traces military and agricultural use of poison gases, incendiaries, smokes, insecticides and pesticides, while exploring the toll on human life, culture and the environment. This topical, judicious book will appeal to environmentalists, academics and sophisticated lay readers.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.