Pesticide Information for Medical Professionals

As a medical professional, you may have patients with a known history of pesticide exposure, or patients who report symptoms but are unsure about their pesticide exposure. In either scenario, collecting a thorough and complete exposure history is essential, including:

• What pesticide was the patient exposed to?
• When did the exposure occur?
• What was the route of exposure (oral, dermal, inhalation)?
• How long/often was the patient exposed to the pesticide?
• When did the patient's symptoms begin following the exposure?
• How long have the symptoms persisted? Have they improved or worsened over time?
• Are there additional exposures or circumstances that may be relevant?

In some cases laboratory testing for exposure to pesticides may be considered. While laboratory testing is possible for many pesticides, analytical methods are not available for all pesticide active ingredients. Additionally, health-based guidelines may not be established for pesticides detected in biological samples. Detecting pesticides in the body does not necessarily mean that a health effect will occur, or that the current health complaints are related. For certain cases you may choose to consult with a clinical toxicologist or occupational/environmental health specialist for assistance.

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email us at npic@ace.orst.edu.

Additional Resources:

• American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)
• Find a Medical Toxicologist - American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT)
• Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC)
• Canadian Accredited Laboratories - CALA Analytical Laboratories
• CompTox Chemicals Dashboard - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Chemical Hazards and Toxic Substances - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Head Lice - American Academy of Pediatrics
• Health Studies: Understanding Chemical and Radiation Exposures - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• INCHEM Pesticide Documents - International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS)
• National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative - Medical
• Pesticide Illness and Injury Surveillance - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Pesticide Reporting - Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative - Medical
• Pesticides and Health - Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center
• Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children's Health (TEACH) Chemical Summaries - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Toxicological Profiles - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)