pesticide information leaflet for health care professionals
When using this website, keep in the mind the correct definition of a pesticide: any substance that kills, repels, or otherwise controls any pest. Herbicides (weedkillers), fungicides, rodenticides, insecticides, etc. are all pesticides.
The Pesticide Information Leaflets (PIL) series addresses various topics of interest ranging from general information to specific topics of concern. This page presents the current list of PILs that are appropriate for health care professionals.
No. 4: Pesticide Emergency and Non-Emergency Information and Resources. Rev. June 2012. 3 pp.
Pesticide users, consumers, and others have questions about pesticides. This leaflet provides telephone numbers and websites to access knowledgeable sources on these issues.
No. 10: Using Insect Repellents Safely. Rev. June 2012. 6 pp.
Historically, insect repellents have been used against mosquitoes, blackflies, and other annoying pests. Increasing concern about Lyme disease, transmitted by the deer tick, and West Nile Virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, has resulted in a corresponding increase in the use of repellents. This leaflet explains how to use available products in the safest manner.
No. 25: Developing a Pesticide Exposure History. Rev. June 2013. 10 pp.
When exposure to pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) is suspected as a cause or contributing factor for a medical problem, the existence of a detailed and accurate exposure history is critical to a correct diagnosis. This pamphlet presents questions that should be helpful in providing the clinician with an accurate picture of pesticide exposure.
No. 26: Comparing Symptoms of Heat Stress and Pesticide Poisoning. Rev. June 2013. 3 pp.
When a pesticide user becomes ill while working with organophosphate or carbamate pesticides in a hot environment, determining whether the handler is suffering from heat exhaustion or pesticide poisoning can be confusing. This leaflet compares and contrasts these two possible causes of serious illness.
No. 27: Understanding Pesticides. Rev. May 2013. 2 pp.
This leaflet explains what pesticides are and offers a brief discussion of their regulation, risks and benefits, and responsible use.
No. 28: How to Read a Pesticide Label. Rev. June 2013. 9 pp.
The pesticide label is a legal document, and it is a violation of the law to use a pesticide in any manner inconsistent with the label. This leaflet explains how the pesticide label is derived and arranged, and helps the reader interpret the information presented on the label.
No. 29: How to Read a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Rev. June 2013. 6 pp.
The MSDS provides information about a product's composition, physical and chemical properties and hazards, toxicological information, and first aid procedures. This leaflet explains how the MSDS is derived and arranged, and helps the reader interpret the information contained in the MSDS.
No. 30: Cholinesterase Monitoring - A Guide for the Health Professional. June 2006. 8 pp.
Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides can inhibit cholinesterase. This leaflet describes for physicians or other health care providers how to set up a monitoring schedule for persons exposed regularly or seasonally to cholinesterase inhibitors.
No. 31: Health Care Providers' Access to Pesticide Information. Rev. June 2013. 2 pp.
Certain laws and regulations ensure that health care providers must have access to pesticide information. This leaflet explains what types of information are available to health care providers under requirements of the Worker Protection Standard and the 1990 Farm Bill.
No. 33: Pesticides and Cancer. Rev. June 2013. 13 pp.
Many people have concerns about whether pesticides are oncogenic or carcinogenic. This publication defines the terms used in classifying carcinogens, explains regulatory options, and identifies pesticides currently classified as carcinogens.
No. 35: Synopsis of the Maryland Pesticide Applicators Law and Regulations. Rev. June 2012. 8 pp.
This leaflet presents an abridged version of the Maryland regulations governing the use, sale, storage, and disposal of pesticides; certification of pesticide applicators; and other matters under the enforcement authority of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. The leaflet is not intended as a substitute for the actual regulations.
No. 36: Pesticides: Usage and Exposure Patterns. Rev. May 2013. 6 pp.
This publication explains how and where pesticides are applied; how people, including children, may be exposed to pesticides through occupational and non-occupational practices; and basic concepts and terminology associated with pesticide use and regulation in the United States. The leaflet is intended as an overview for people such as health care practitioners and others who may need to know about pesticides but do not have practical experience with them.
No. 37: Section 25(b) Pesticides: Minimum Risk? Rev. July 2012. 4 pp.
In 1996, EPA exempted certain pesticides, considered to pose minimum risk to humans and the environment, from the requirement to be reviewed and registered prior to sale and use, provided the products satisfy certain conditions. This publication explains the conditions associated with minimum risk pesticides, provides links to lists of active and inert ingredients currently accepted for this classification, and discusses the concerns held by many pesticide educators and state regulators.
No. 40: Pesticide Regulatory Information Resources on the Internet. Rev. August 2013. 2 pp.
This leaflet provides internet resources on the laws dealing with pesticide regulation and associated regulations and policies. Two basic laws, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), define how pesticides may be registered, sold, used, transported, stored, and disposed of in the U.S. Additional laws address specific concerns such as safety of pesticide workers (the Worker Protection Standard), protections for endangered species (the Endangered Species Act), and other issues.
No. 44: Research Results from the Agricultural Health Study. Rev. February 2011. 7 pp.
The Agricultural Health Study is a long-term project examining health outcomes for pesticide applicators and their spouses. This leaflet provides highlights of the study.
No. 45: Protecting Pet Heath when Using Flea & Tick Control Products. Rev. April 2012. 3 pp.
Flea and tick products can be appropriate treatments for protecting pets to avoid transmission of disease. However, misuse of these products can result in adverse effects ranging from irritation to serious effects including death of sensitive pets. This leaflet provides general guidelines for the safe use of flea and tick products on pets and outlines the steps being taken by regulators to increase the safety of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control for cats and dogs.
No. 46: First Aid for Pesticide Emergencies. May 2013. 3 pp.
Pesticide exposures require immediate care. This leaflet provides basic first aid information that can be used alongside specific instructions on pesticide labels and from health care professionals.
No. 4: Pesticide Emergency and Non-Emergency Information and Resources. Rev. June 2012. 3 pp.
Pesticide users, consumers, and others have questions about pesticides. This leaflet provides telephone numbers and websites to access knowledgeable sources on these issues.
No. 10: Using Insect Repellents Safely. Rev. June 2012. 6 pp.
Historically, insect repellents have been used against mosquitoes, blackflies, and other annoying pests. Increasing concern about Lyme disease, transmitted by the deer tick, and West Nile Virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, has resulted in a corresponding increase in the use of repellents. This leaflet explains how to use available products in the safest manner.
No. 25: Developing a Pesticide Exposure History. Rev. June 2013. 10 pp.
When exposure to pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) is suspected as a cause or contributing factor for a medical problem, the existence of a detailed and accurate exposure history is critical to a correct diagnosis. This pamphlet presents questions that should be helpful in providing the clinician with an accurate picture of pesticide exposure.
No. 26: Comparing Symptoms of Heat Stress and Pesticide Poisoning. Rev. June 2013. 3 pp.
When a pesticide user becomes ill while working with organophosphate or carbamate pesticides in a hot environment, determining whether the handler is suffering from heat exhaustion or pesticide poisoning can be confusing. This leaflet compares and contrasts these two possible causes of serious illness.
No. 27: Understanding Pesticides. Rev. May 2013. 2 pp.
This leaflet explains what pesticides are and offers a brief discussion of their regulation, risks and benefits, and responsible use.
No. 28: How to Read a Pesticide Label. Rev. June 2013. 9 pp.
The pesticide label is a legal document, and it is a violation of the law to use a pesticide in any manner inconsistent with the label. This leaflet explains how the pesticide label is derived and arranged, and helps the reader interpret the information presented on the label.
No. 29: How to Read a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Rev. June 2013. 6 pp.
The MSDS provides information about a product's composition, physical and chemical properties and hazards, toxicological information, and first aid procedures. This leaflet explains how the MSDS is derived and arranged, and helps the reader interpret the information contained in the MSDS.
No. 30: Cholinesterase Monitoring - A Guide for the Health Professional. June 2006. 8 pp.
Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides can inhibit cholinesterase. This leaflet describes for physicians or other health care providers how to set up a monitoring schedule for persons exposed regularly or seasonally to cholinesterase inhibitors.
No. 31: Health Care Providers' Access to Pesticide Information. Rev. June 2013. 2 pp.
Certain laws and regulations ensure that health care providers must have access to pesticide information. This leaflet explains what types of information are available to health care providers under requirements of the Worker Protection Standard and the 1990 Farm Bill.
No. 33: Pesticides and Cancer. Rev. June 2013. 13 pp.
Many people have concerns about whether pesticides are oncogenic or carcinogenic. This publication defines the terms used in classifying carcinogens, explains regulatory options, and identifies pesticides currently classified as carcinogens.
No. 35: Synopsis of the Maryland Pesticide Applicators Law and Regulations. Rev. June 2012. 8 pp.
This leaflet presents an abridged version of the Maryland regulations governing the use, sale, storage, and disposal of pesticides; certification of pesticide applicators; and other matters under the enforcement authority of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. The leaflet is not intended as a substitute for the actual regulations.
No. 36: Pesticides: Usage and Exposure Patterns. Rev. May 2013. 6 pp.
This publication explains how and where pesticides are applied; how people, including children, may be exposed to pesticides through occupational and non-occupational practices; and basic concepts and terminology associated with pesticide use and regulation in the United States. The leaflet is intended as an overview for people such as health care practitioners and others who may need to know about pesticides but do not have practical experience with them.
No. 37: Section 25(b) Pesticides: Minimum Risk? Rev. July 2012. 4 pp.
In 1996, EPA exempted certain pesticides, considered to pose minimum risk to humans and the environment, from the requirement to be reviewed and registered prior to sale and use, provided the products satisfy certain conditions. This publication explains the conditions associated with minimum risk pesticides, provides links to lists of active and inert ingredients currently accepted for this classification, and discusses the concerns held by many pesticide educators and state regulators.
No. 40: Pesticide Regulatory Information Resources on the Internet. Rev. August 2013. 2 pp.
This leaflet provides internet resources on the laws dealing with pesticide regulation and associated regulations and policies. Two basic laws, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), define how pesticides may be registered, sold, used, transported, stored, and disposed of in the U.S. Additional laws address specific concerns such as safety of pesticide workers (the Worker Protection Standard), protections for endangered species (the Endangered Species Act), and other issues.
No. 44: Research Results from the Agricultural Health Study. Rev. February 2011. 7 pp.
The Agricultural Health Study is a long-term project examining health outcomes for pesticide applicators and their spouses. This leaflet provides highlights of the study.
No. 45: Protecting Pet Heath when Using Flea & Tick Control Products. Rev. April 2012. 3 pp.
Flea and tick products can be appropriate treatments for protecting pets to avoid transmission of disease. However, misuse of these products can result in adverse effects ranging from irritation to serious effects including death of sensitive pets. This leaflet provides general guidelines for the safe use of flea and tick products on pets and outlines the steps being taken by regulators to increase the safety of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control for cats and dogs.
No. 46: First Aid for Pesticide Emergencies. May 2013. 3 pp.
Pesticide exposures require immediate care. This leaflet provides basic first aid information that can be used alongside specific instructions on pesticide labels and from health care professionals.