The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Toxaphene was once the nation's most heavily used pesticide and accounted for one-fifth of all pesticide use in the United States. It was used mainly on cotton and dozens of food crops and on livestock to kill parasites. It is severely toxic to fish and wildlife and has been implicated in massive kills of fish, ducks, pelicans, and other waterfowl. Because of this, its ability to cause cancerous tumors and genetic abnormalities in animals, and fears that it may be similarly dangerous to humans, all sale and use of toxaphene have been banned except for already existing stocks. However, this chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide is extremely persistent. Years after application, it has been found in fish, water, wildlife, and the food chain/web, posing a continuing potential threat to the environment and human health.