Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

Pesticide Surveillance Program

Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology • Pesticide Surveillance Program • Education Materials • Links • Reports / Publications

Pesticide Surveillance Program Activities:

• Investigate and evaluate adverse health effects related to acute pesticide exposure (pesticide poisoning is a reportable condition in Louisiana);
• Record information from pesticide investigations into the pesticide surveillance database;
• Analyze pesticide exposure data;
• Write reports and articles highlighting findings from pesticide exposure data
• Implement intervention and outreach activities to prevent or reduce pesticide exposure.

For copies of the brochure What You Need to Know about Pesticides, and Your Health in Louisiana, call us at (888) 293-7020 or click here for an electronic version.

Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions about Pesticides.

Where Do We Get Reports of Pesticide Exposure?

Reports of pesticide exposure are received from several sources: Healthcare providers; complaints filed with the Health-Related Pesticide Incident Report Program (HRPIR), and Poison Control Center (PCC) calls.

• Healthcare providers are required by Louisiana Law to report all cases of pesticide exposure or poisoning to the Louisiana Office of Public Health.
• Click here to report a case of pesticide poisoning
• Click here for a list of reportable diseases Title 51. Public Health-Sanitary Code
• The Health-Related Pesticide Incident Program (HRPIR) is a joint Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and Department of Health & Hospitals' program. Both agencies work together to investigate complaints of pesticide exposure. HRPIR investigations typically involve the following: interview with exposed persons; review of pesticide application records and interview with pesticide applicator; and collection of environmental samples such as a residue sample or soil sample. Based on the collected information, LDAF determines if a misapplication has occurred, and LDHH evaluates the health effects associated with the pesticide exposure.
• If you believe you have suffered health effects from a pesticide exposure, file a Health-Related Pesticide Incident Complaint as soon as possible with LDAF. To file a complaint, contact the LDAF Pesticide Hotline: 225-925-3763 (business hours); 1-855-452-5323 (after business hours) or visit LDAF's Pesticide Related Complaints website.
• The Louisiana Poison Control Center (PCC) receives calls from the general public and health care providers. The majority of calls involve an acute exposure to a toxic substance and the PCC's primary function is to provide the caller with toxicologic and medical treatment information. The LA PCC reports all calls that involve pesticide exposure to LDHH/SEET.
• The Louisiana Poison Control Center's 24-hour toll-free number is 1-800-222-1222.

Pesticides and Schools

To protect children from pesticides during school hours, most states, including Louisiana, have adopted rules or regulations regarding the application of pesticides on or near school property. The Louisiana Pesticide Law regulates the use of pesticides in schools. The purpose of the law is to protect children and school staff from exposure to pesticides used in and around schools. The law encourages schools to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) enforces the Louisiana Pesticide Law. Click here to visit LDAF's School Integrated Pest Management website.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about Pesticides in LA Schools.

Click here for an electronic version of the brochure What You Should Know about Pesticide Use in Louisiana Schools

Registry of Pesticide Hypersensitive Individuals

In 1989, LDAF and LDHH/SEET established the Registry of Pesticide Hypersensitive Individuals. The registry's purpose is to enable hypersensitive individuals to receive prior notification of pesticide applications in the vicinity of their home. With prior notification, individuals can take necessary precautions to protect themselves from inadvertent pesticide exposure. There is no charge for inclusion on the registry, although a physician must certify that the registrant is hypersensitive to pesticides. The registry is provided to all licensed applicators and pest control operators (PCOs) in Louisiana. Applicators and PCOs are requested to notify registrants prior to making a pesticide application to a property within one hundred feet or adjacent to a registrant's property. Notification by applicators and PCOs is voluntary and there is no penalty for non-compliance.

For more information on the registry or to obtain a hypersensitivity registry application, contact LDAF's Office of Pesticide and Environmental Programs at 225-925-3763 or visit LDAF's Registry of Pesticide Hypersensitive Individuals website.