Health Effects of Pesticides and Responding to Pesticide Poisonings
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Resources for Information on the Health Effects of Pesticides and Responding to Pesticide Poisonings
Fact Sheet #30, September 1999

This resource sheet is a guide for those who seek information written for the consumer about the health effects of pesticides, and provides information on responding to a pesticide poisoning or suspected overexposure. Pesticides include products used to control insects, weeds, fungi, other microbes, rodents and other animals. In the US, all pesticides are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Remember to use a pesticide only when necessary, select a pesticide that will do the job, and purchase only the required amount. Always follow label directions on use, storage, and protective clothing and equipment. Proper use of a pesticide will minimize your exposure and minimize the chance of related health problems.

Resources on the Health Effects of Pesticides

General Information

    EPA Concerned Citizen Web Page
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency
on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/citizen.htm

Links to other EPA-sponsored web sites that deal with environmental pollution, potential health risks from pesticides, and ways to preserve the environment. This page also provides links to hotline phone numbers for reporting chemical spills and other emergencies.

    EPA Pesticide Applicator and Worker Safety
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency
on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/worker.htm

The EPA Worker Health Program provides information about concerns of overexposure to chemicals in the workplace.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency
on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/reg5foia/pest/faq.html {NOTE: this page has been removed from the EPA website}

Answers consumer questions about exposure to pesticides. The site provides information describing what a pesticide is, how to obtain information on pesticide residues in food, and where drinking water can be tested for pesticide residues.

    Pesticide Health Information for New York State
Organization: NYS Department of Health
on-line at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/environ/homeenvi.htm

This resource includes information for both consumers and researchers. This specific page has information on tick and insect repellents, pesticide spray drift exposure, and reducing pesticide exposure.
To Order:
NYS Department of Health, Center for Environmental Health, 2 University Place, Albany, NY 12203-3399
Phone: 1-800-458-1158

    National Pesticide Telecommunications Network
Organization: Oregon State University & Environmental Protection Agency
on-line at: http://ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/nptnfact.htm

Provides fact sheets which include information on products that contain a pesticide, toxicity of the pesticide, and whether the pesticide causes cancer, reproductive problems or birth defects. It also provides information on what happens to the pesticide in the environment. The fact sheets can be downloaded as PDF files. Printed copies can be ordered from the address below with only a small charge for shipping and handling.
To Order:
NPTN, Oregon State University, 333 Weniger Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331- 6502
Phone: 1-800-858-7378 Email: nptn@ace.orst.edu

    National Agricultural Safety Database
Organization: National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health
on-line at: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/menu/topic/chemicals.html

Menu-driven site has hundreds of fact sheets about agricultural safety. Topics on pesticides and chemicals include information on preventing pesticide poisonings, environmental concerns, the fate of pesticides in soil and water, and information on pesticide labels.
To Order:
Call the free CDC fax service at 1-888-232-3299. Follow the menu prompts. Enter form number #705000 (for an order form) and your fax number.

    Pesticides and Food
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency
on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/

Includes consumer right-to-know information on the risks of pesticides in food and sensible food practices to follow for minimizing exposure to pesticide residues. The site provides links to other pages of interest, including:
Brochure on Pesticides and Food: What You and Your Family Need to Know
on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/brochure.pdf
To Order: Phone: 1-800-490-9198, for a free copy of the brochure.
Why Children May Be Especially Sensitive to Pesticides
on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/pest.htm
Health Problems Pesticides May Pose
on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/risks.htm

Health Information

    Pesticide Health Effects on Humans
Organization: Cornell University's Pesticide Management Education Program
on-line at: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/gen-posaf-health.html

This fact sheet provides short summaries of the health effects of various pesticides, including toxic effects in humans, symptoms of acute poisoning, and health effects from long-term exposure.

    Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings, 5th edition
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency
on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/healthcare/handbook/handbook.htm

This manual provides health professionals and related health organizations with up-to-date information on the health hazards of pesticides currently in use, and recommendations for management of acute pesticide poisonings.
To Order:
Phone: 703-305-7666 Fax: 703-308-2962 (for free copies)

    Pesticidal Chemicals Classified as Known, Probable or Possible Human Carcinogens
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention Pesticide and Toxic Substances
on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/carlist/

An easy-to-read tabular format is used to group pesticides according to their cancer-causing potential, and provides information on the pesticide's registration date, pattern of use, and regulatory status.

    8th Summary Report on Carcinogens
Organization: Environmental Health Information Service, US Department of Health and Human Services
on-line at: http://ehis.niehs.nih.gov/roc

This technical document profiles known and possible human carcinogens. Each chemical profile consists of sections describing evidence of cancer-causing effects, chemical properties, use, production, exposure, and regulations. You can view the table of contents for this report at the web address listed above.
To Order:
OCR Services Inc., Attn.: Order Processing, PO Box 12510, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2510 Cost: $68.00
Phone: 1-800-315-3010 Fax: 919-541-0763
On-line orders: http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/admin/rocoptions.html

    Environmental Estrogens and Other Hormones
Organization: Center for Bioenvironmental Research of Tulane University & Xavier University
on-line at: http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ecme/EEHome/default.html

This web site provides basic information on concepts needed to understand how some pesticides act as environmental estrogens. The "Endocrine Disrupter News" section has easy-to-read summaries on new research findings about environmental estrogens.

    Tox Faq Sheets from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Organization: US Department of Health and Human Services
on-line at: http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/toxfaq.html

Tox Faq Sheets provide easy-to-read information on the health effects of pesticides and many other hazardous chemicals. They provide information on how you can be exposed, known health effects, if the chemical causes cancer, how to test for exposure, and how the federal government regulates the chemical to protect human health. Free printed copies are available.
To Order:
ATSDR, Div. of Toxicology, 1600 Clifton Rd.
Mail Stop E29, Atlanta, GA, 30333
Phone: 1-888-422-8737 Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov

    Pesticides, Metals and Chemical Contaminants
Organization: Food and Drug Administration
on-line at: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/pestadd.html

This site has a wealth of resources on pesticide residue monitoring and other technical references. Links on the page will take the reader to "Pesticide Analytical Data" and also to related information on other chemical contaminants and heavy metals.

    Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET)
Organization: University California-Davis, Oregon State University, Cornell University, Michigan State University, University of Idaho
on-line at: http://ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/

The EXTOXNET network is a cooperative effort of five major universities across the nation. The site provides a wide range of information on pesticides, including Pesticide Information Profiles (PIPs), Toxicology Issues of Concern (TIC), toxicology newsletters, fact sheets on selected pesticides, and treatments to remove chemicals from drinking water.

    Pesticide Information Profiles (PIPs) from EXTOXNET
on-line at: http://ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/pips/ghindex.html

PIPs include information on the health and environmental effects of 169 different pesticides. These documents include brief statements on reproductive effects, birth defects, genetic effects and cancer effects in humans and in laboratory animals. The PIPs also provide information on the pesticide's ecological effects and chemical properties. References are provided. Note: many of the PIPs were written in the early 1990s and may need to be updated.

Responding to a Pesticide Poisoning

See other Fact Sheets for more information on the safe use of pesticides and ways to reduce pesticide exposure:

Fact Sheet #04, Reducing Pesticide Exposure in the Home and Garden: Alternatives and Proper and Legal Use Resource Sheet
Fact Sheet #7a, Reducing Potential Cancer Risks from Drinking Water, Part I: Contaminant Sources and Drinking Water Standards
Fact Sheet #7b, Reducing Potential Cancer Risks from Drinking Water, Part II: Home Water Treatment Options
Fact Sheet #21, Avoiding Exposure to Household Pesticides: Protective Clothing
Fact Sheet #22, Safe Use and Storage of Hazardous Household Products

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Prepared Suzanne Snedeker, PhD., Research Project Leader, BCERF

When reproducing this material, credit the authors and the Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors in New York State.

Last Update 05.06.03