Samuel Epstein and Shirley Briggs reiterate Rachel Carson's grim Silent Spring¹ vision of the world in their recent Dialogue.² The authors state that the "runaway technology" of the chemical industry is responsible for increasing cancer rates and "contamination of our world." This apocalyptic³ view of cancer and pollution is not supported by the scientific knowledge gained in the quarter century since Silent Spring was published.

In reality, the technological progress of the last 25 years has brought both health and environmental benefits, largely due to modern chemicals. A safer workplace, cleaner environment, and longer lifespan result from applying modern technology to solve health and environmental problems and thereby enhance modern existence.