Final answer:
The DDT ban was successful in achieving its goals as evidenced by the recovery of bird populations endangered by the pesticide, marking a significant victory for environmental conservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ban on DDT by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1972 aimed to address the environmental and ecological damage caused by the pesticide, particularly its adverse effects on bird populations. The use of DDT had led to the thinning of eggshells in birds like eagles and pelicans, threatening their survival.
Following the ban, there was a noticeable recovery in the populations of these affected bird species, with the bald eagle making a significant comeback from the brink of extinction.
The ban on DDT has been regarded as an important success in environmental conservation efforts and a key moment in the American environmental movement, inspired in part by Rachel Carson's influential book, Silent Spring.