Once a crop was sprayed with these pesticides, it killed insects for weeks and months, and not only the targeted insects but also countless more, and remained toxic in the environment even after it was diluted by rainwater. Carson concluded that DDT and other pesticides had harmed birds and animals and had contaminated the entire food supply for the world. One part of the book, which is scary yet true, was the chapter, "A Fable For Tomorrow." This chapter is about a fictional town, which was once beautiful, but one spring; many of the animals and people became very ill. The causes of their illnesses were because of the over use of the chemicals to control the nature around them. Carson outlines the fact that the pesticides are: "nonselective chemicals that have the power to kill every insect, the "good" and the "bad," to still the song of birds and the leaping of fish in the streams, to coat the leaves with a deadly film, and to linger in soil-all this though the intended target may be only a few weeds or insects"(Carson, 1962). The other problem with the pesticides is that several of the species were building up immunities to the chemicals that were being used. This means that there was a need for stronger pests. Carson felt that the alternatives to chemical control would be biological solutions. An example of biological solutions is when and immigrant species is introduced into the area with the pest. The immigrant species is a predator to the pest and with hope, will exterminate the problem. Carson has been a large influence on the topic of pesticides. .
Robert Van Den Bosch was another contributor to the issue of Pesticide Control. Van Den Bosch was a "highly accomplished scientist whose research career was devoted to the problem of controlling pest populations."(Goldfarb, 2000) The key concepts to his works are that of Integrated Pest Management. Integrated Pest Management is the use of biological controls, improved pest knowledge and observation, and practical application of chemicals only when absolutely necessary.