Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Home Pesticides Services Available from OEHHA

Pesticides

Pesticides - Services Available from OEHHA

Assistance to counties and other government agencies:

General pesticide toxicity information

Information on pesticide toxicity can be obtained from:
National Pesticide Telecommunications Network
Oregon State University
333 Weniger Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-6502
(800) 858-7378 (toll-free, 24-hours)
Hours: 6:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. 7 days a week (Pacific Time)
Fax: (541) 737-0761
Web site: http://npic.orst.edu/

This site is funded by U.S. EPA and provides information on pesticide toxicity, health effects, residue data, efficacy, etc. Referral services are also available. Specific information is available on pesticides such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and rodenticides. The web site has access to databases and to an on-line version of the book Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings.

Pesticide illness investigations: assistance to counties

OEHHA is responsible for assisting local and county health officers (CHOs) in conducting epidemiological (health based) investigations of pesticide illness outbreaks, under H&S Code 105210.

California county agricultural commissioners (CACs) are responsible for investigating pesticide illness as representatives for the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR); DPR is in turn responsible to the U.S. EPA under a memo of understanding. However, CAC investigations are usually focused on enforcement issues, not health concerns. For this reason, county health officers are empowered, under the California Food and Agriculture Code (F&A Code), Section 12982, to conduct epidemiological studies of pesticide illness to supplement those of the county agricultural commissioners. If the pesticide illness constitutes an illness outbreak, the county health officer may request the assistance of OEHHA under H&S Code, Section 105210.


Physician training
OEHHA offers three training classes for physicians, nurses, and other health care providers, in accordance with H&S Code, Section 105205. Continuing Medical Education credits for physicians and nurses can be awarded for these presentations.

1) In collaboration with the California Office of Binational Border Health, the University of California’s Center for Environmental and Occupational Health (COEH), and DPR, OEHHA offers an on-line training for physicians and nurses: Recognition, Management, and Reporting of Pesticide Illness. This 60 minute course provides:

  • The regulatory definition of pesticides;
  • Guidelines on how to recognize, diagnose, and manage commonly encountered pesticide illnesses;
  • Case reports;
  • Information of pesticide classifications;
  • Reporting requirements for medical providers.

This educational activity is designated for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. This credit may also be applied to the CMA Certification in Continuing Medical Education. For nurses, this training is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing for 1.2 contact hours.

2) OEHHA offers an in person one-hour presentation on pesticide illness surveillance with medical information on the recognition and management of pesticide poisoning.

3) OEHHA offers an in person one-hour presentation on the California program of medical supervision (cholinesterase monitoring) for agricultural pesticide mixer/loader/applicators who regularly handle toxicity Category I and II organophosphate or n-methyl carbamate pesticides.

Please contact OEHHA to set up a place, time, and day in which you would like to have either of the presentations scheduled. Phone (510) 622-3170 and ask for Dr. William Ngai.

You may follow this link to go to the on-line training: Recognition, Management, and Reporting of Pesticide Illness.

The U.S. EPA offers an excellent text on pesticides and pesticide illness entitled: Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings. This book is available on-line at http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/healthcare/
handbook/handbook.htm.

Individual copies are available from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, at 703-305-7666. For large orders, free copies may be requested by calling the National Service Center for Environmental Publications at (800) 490-9198 and requesting publication # EPA735R98003.


Assistance to the public
OEHHA is primarily a public health agency with responsibilities to state and county public health programs and can provide very limited technical assistance to members of the general public. However, the National Pesticide Information Center can provide technical assistance to the general public. Telephone (800) 858-7378.

 

 
 
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