Reporting Pesticide Problems
Pesticides have a wide range of uses. For example, pesticides help farmers and food processors to maintain a safe and plentiful food supply. They can prevent infections from being transferred in our water and hospitals, prevent property damage from mold, termites and other pests, and protect family pets from tick and flea infestations. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for the registration of all pesticides within the United States. The EPA aims to protect human health and the environment by regulating pesticides, in part, by the collecting of adverse effects reports and re-evaluating pesticide products regularly. This page explains the types of adverse effects that should be reported, and how you can report them.
Select the type of report you want to learn about from the list below:
- Reporting a Human Exposure or Illness
- Reporting an Animal Exposure or Illness
- Reporting an Environmental Incident (wildlife, air, soil or water)
- Reporting an Illegal Pesticide Application or Activity
- Reporting Problems with a Pesticide Container or Label
Follow these steps to report a human exposure or illness:
If you need medical attention right now, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Call the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378 to report the pesticide exposures or illnesses. NPIC provides these reports to the EPA under a cooperative agreement. NPIC is open seven days per week from 6:30am - 4:30pm PST.
Consider reporting the incident to the product's manufacturer. Manufacturers are required by law to submit reports of adverse effects to the US EPA.
Attention Physicians and Health Care Providers: By law, pesticide-related illness is a reportable condition in several states. If you are a health care provider treating a pesticide related incident, consider reading our Medical Case Profile on Pesticide Incident Reporting. NPIC has a medical toxicologist on staff who is available to provide information and consult with physicians about non-emergency pesticide exposure cases. Call us at 1-800-858-7378 for assistance.
Note: Some products applied to humans or animals are considered drugs (pharmaceuticals). Adverse reactions to pharmaceuticals should be reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Follow these steps to report an animal exposure or illness:
If your animal needs medical attention right now, consider calling your local veterinarian, a local emergency clinic, or calling the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) at 1-888-426-4435. NAPCC may charge a fee.
Call the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378 to report the pesticide exposures or illnesses. NPIC provides these reports to the EPA under a cooperative agreement. NPIC is open seven days per week from 6:30am - 4:30pm PST.
Consider reporting the incident to the product's manufacturer. Manufacturers are required by law to submit reports of adverse effects to the US EPA.
Attention Veterinarians: If you are a veterinarian, your report about pesticide-related illness will help improve the quality of all animal incident data received by the EPA. Please submit reports using our quick and easy Veterinary Pesticide Adverse Effects Reporting portal.
Note: Some products applied to humans or animals are considered drugs (pharmaceuticals). Adverse reactions to pharmaceuticals should be reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Follow these steps to report an environmental incident (wildlife, air, soil or water):
If a pesticide incident has occurred involving wildlife, air, soil or water, contact your State Environmental Agency to report the problem.
Next, call the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378 to report the incident. NPIC provides these reports to the EPA under a cooperative agreement. Trained pesticide specialists are available to document the incident and provide information that could be helpful in your unique situation. NPIC is open seven days per week from 6:30am - 4:30pm PST.
Also, consider reporting the incident to the product's manufacturer. Manufacturers are required by law to submit reports of adverse effects to the US EPA.
Attention Environmental, Wildlife and Conservation Professionals: If you want to report pesticide-related illness in wildlife or an environmental problem associated with a pesticide, please submit a report using our quick and easy Ecological Pesticide Incident Reporting portal. Reports from professionals like yourself will be sent directly to the EPA and will improve the quality of environmental incident data the EPA receives.
Follow these steps to report a concerning or illegal pesticide application or product:
The types of situations you may want to report include reports of pesticide drift, applications where label directions or local regulations are not followed, applications of restricted-use pesticides by unlicensed applicators, and the sale of illegal pesticides.
Call the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378 to report pesticide activities that are concerning or may be may be illegal. Laws vary from state to state, so first contact one of our trained specialists who will ask questions, evaluate and document your situation, and help you determine if you need to consult with your state's authorities that enforce pesticide laws.
If the NPIC specialist determines the pesticide application could have been made improperly or illegally, or that a pesticide product may be an illegal product, NPIC specialists will help you report the situation to your state pesticide regulatory agency for possible enforcement action.
How to report problems with faulty pesticide containers or pesticides with misleading or faulty labels:
First, call the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378. Some problems with pesticide products should be reported to the state pesticide regulatory agency, while others should be reported to the product's manufacturer. Our trained specialists will ask you questions to help you determine who needs to be notified. NPIC is open seven days per week from 6:30am - 4:30pm PST.
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