Final answer:
The book 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson, published in 1962, exposed the environmental and health damages caused by pesticides, leading to increased regulation and the US ban on DDT.
Step-by-step explanation:
The book that exposed the damage pesticides were doing to our environment and products is Silent Spring, written by Rachel Carson. Published in 1962, it highlighted the harmful effects of chemicals like DDT not only on wildlife but also on human health, food supplies, and ecosystems. The book received strong opposition from chemical companies, yet it prompted significant changes, including the 1972 US ban on DDT in agriculture and inspired generations of environmental activists. Moreover, Carson’s work called attention to the processes of bioaccumulation and the inevitability of pesticide resistance. Despite the clear benefits of pesticides in agriculture and disease control, the scientific community has recognized the necessity for safer and more regulated pesticide use, as well as the value of naturally derived alternatives.