Where to Start with Pesticide Incidents

Each state has their own pesticide regulatory agency that regulates most pesticide-related matters. They have the main responsibility to investigate pesticide incidents and may look into potential misuse, drift, and off-target impacts.

Human exposure

If you need medical attention right now, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

If you are outside the U.S. and its territories, contact your country's poison center using the World Health Organization Poison Centre's Directory.

If the situation involves an exposure at work, misapplication, or drift, call your state pesticide regulatory agency to report the occupational exposure.
Consider reporting the incident to the product manufacturer. Manufacturers are required by law to submit reports of adverse effects to the Environmental Protection Agency (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. Call us at 800-858-7378 for assistance.

Is it a drug or a pesticide? Some pest-controlling products applied to humans are considered drugs (pharmaceuticals). Adverse reactions to drugs should be reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Animal exposure

If your animal needs medical attention right now, consider calling your local veterinarian, a local emergency clinic, or calling the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at 888-426-4435. APCC may charge a fee.
Consider reporting the incident to the product manufacturer. Manufacturers are required by law to submit reports of adverse effects to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Consider contacting your state pesticide regulatory agency.

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 Incident Reporting portal. Guidance for using the portal can be found on the overview page.

Is it a drug or a pesticide? Some pest-controlling products applied to animals are considered drugs (pharmaceuticals). Adverse reactions to drugs should be reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Drift, misuse, or concerning use

Whatever the pesticide regulations are in your state, potential violations should be reported to the state pesticide regulatory agency.

Situations you may want to report include:

Pesticide drift
Applications where label directions or local regulations were not followed
Applications of restricted-use pesticides by uncertified applicators
Sale of illegal pesticides

Environmental concerns (wildlife, bees)

If a pesticide incident has occurred involving wildlife, air, soil or water, contact your state pesticide regulatory agency.
You might also contact your state environmental agency to report the problem.
Consider reporting the incident to the manufacturer of the product. Manufacturers are required by law to submit reports of adverse effects to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Ecological Pesticide Incident Reporting: Besides contacting the above resources, you may use this portal to report pesticide-related illness in wildlife, including bees, or an environmental problem associated with a pesticide. Guidance for using the portal can be found on the overview page.

Label or container issues

Certain problems with pesticide products should be reported to your state pesticide regulatory agency, while others should be reported to the product manufacturer.

Our trained specialists will ask questions to help you determine who needs to be notified. NPIC is open from 8:00am - 12:00pm Pacific Time and can be reached at 800-858-7378. You may also contact us by email at npic@ace.orst.edu

Incidents on tribal land

The pesticide regulator on tribal land may be a tribal designee, or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

You can report pesticide incidents online, or call your Regional EPA Office to identify the right people to investigate. Ask to speak with someone in the pesticide program.

If you're not sure where to start, call the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 800-858-7378. Our specialists will ask questions, document your situation, and discuss your state's resources.