PESTICIDES:  CONTAMINATION, DISPOSAL, AND POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

	PESTICIDE CONTAMINATION

1) If you believe that soil or water other than well water is contaminated with , Raleigh pesticide residues, contact the NCDA Pesticide Section (P.O. Box 27647, Raleigh 27611-7647; 919/733-3556) which tests soil and water for pesticides free of charge.  If human exposure with the contaminants has occurred, then the Pesticide Administration should both refer you and is likely to report the incident to N.C. DEHNR Pesticide Program (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-3410).  Staff there can advise you on remedial actions to take after contact with the pesticides.

For more resources for remedial advice, see the section below called "potential effects of exposure to pesticides..."

Private labs will also test for pesticides.  This is generally expensive because private labs run tests for single pesticides and each test can cost $40 or more; therefore, if you have a good idea of which pesticide(s) may have been used, only a few tests may be needed.  If you have no idea which pesticides may have been used, the lab may run numerous tests before making an identification.  Guesses about particular pesticides can be made if you know which crops were planted.  Contact either your county extension agent or the Agricultural Resources Center (115 W. Main St., Carrboro 27510; 919/967-1886 or 615 Willard Pl., Raleigh 27603; 919/839-0159) to find out which pesticides are most commonly used on specific crops.  Your extension agent may refer your query to an agent at either N.C. A&T University or N.C. State University.  A list of private labs which test for soil or water contamination may be obtained from the NCDA Pesticide Section (P.O. Box 27647, Raleigh 27611-7647; 919/733-3556).  Depending on the situation, most labs should be able to provide a cost estimate for the work.

2) If you are concerned that your well water may be contaminated with pesticides, contact the your county sanitarian.  She or he will work with the N.C. DEHNR Pesticide Program to test your well water free of charge and if it is indeed contaminated, to recommend methods for decontaminating the well.  The Agricultural Resources Center can also provide advice (115 W. Main St., Carrboro 27510; 919/967-1886 or 615 Willard Pl., Raleigh 27603; 919/839-0159).

UNC-Asheville Environmental Quality Institute tests well water for organizations and small communities as part of their research program.  Their testing is less expensive than that of a commercial private lab.  Contact Richard Maas (Environmental Quality Institute, UNC-Asheville, Asheville 28804; 704/251-6002).

3) If you suspect that indoor air is contaminated with pesticides due to a poor extermination treatment, for instance, contact the NCDA Structural Pest Control Division (919/733-6100) (page 6).  The Division should notify N.C. DEHNR Pesticide Program (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-3410) of your concern.  The Pesticide Program can test the air and make recommendations for management and for treating related health problems.  (For more expert sources for health-related advice, see the section on page 10... called "potential effects of exposure to pesticides...".)  The Agricultural Resources Center can also provide advice (115 W. Main St., Carrboro 27510; 919/967-1886 or 615 Willard Pl., Raleigh 27603; 919/839-0159).

4) If you are concerned about pesticide levels in food, private labs will test food samples for contamination (this can be expensive).  A list of private labs which test for pesticides can be obtained from the NCDA Pesticide Section (P.O. Box 27647, Raleigh 27611-7647; 919/733-3556).

NCDA Food and Drug Protection Division (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-7366), does NOT test food samples from residents for pesticide contamination.  The Division does periodically test random samples of produce harvested or sold in N.C. as part of their regulatory function.  Specific data on results of the tests can be obtained by making a request in writing pursuant to N.C. General Statute 132 (N.C.'s public records law) (see the Appendix for instructions).  The Agricultural Resources Center can also provide advice (115 W. Main St., Carrboro 27510; 919/967-1886 or 615 Willard Pl., Raleigh 27603; 919/839-0159).

	PESTICIDE DISPOSAL

Agricultural Resources Center 
(115 W. Main St., Carrboro 27510; 919/967-1886 or 615 Willard Pl., Raleigh 27603; 919/839-0159):  Provides advice on disposing pesticides.

Community or county recycling and/or sanitation departments:  
Some departments have collection programs for hazardous substances such as house and garden pesticides.

NCDA Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program 
(4000 Reedy Creek Rd., Raleigh 27607-6468; 919/733-7366):  The program accepts unused pesticides from homes or farms, providing that the pesticides are in the original container with the product name and ingredients listed by percentage on the label.  Metal containers five gallons or larger must be placed in a protective drum.  An inspector will pick up the pesticides from your home or farm, usually seven to ten days following your contacting the program.  Pesticides are inventoried and incinerated.

	POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES AND ACTIONS TO TAKE ONCE EXPOSED

Note:  The information on a pesticide label, including the brand name and common name, EPA registration number, cautionary statement, manufacturer, and formulator, is very important in helping someone who has been exposed.  If you don't have the label but do know what the pesticide is (or have a guess), then the NCDA Pesticide Section (P.O. Box 27647, Raleigh 27611-7647; 919/733-3556) can give you a copy of the label.

The first place to go for remedial help after exposure to pesticides is your physician or hospital.  Doctor offices and hospitals frequently use a computer database to diagnose poisonings and obtain further assistance from poison control centers.  Sometimes these sources can provide very specific diagnoses.  However, it is important to note that most physicians have little training in pesticide toxicology and may have difficulty in diagnosing pesticide poisonings, as the symptoms often mimic other conditions.  The sources listed below can also provide helpful information.

Agricultural Resources Center 
(115 W. Main St., Carrboro 27510; 919/967-1886 or 615 Willard Pl., Raleigh 27603; 919/839-0159):  Provides basic advice on finding help with identifying and remedying a pesticide poisoning.

Duke University Medical Center Poison Control Center 
(Box 3007, Durham 27710; 800/672-1697):  Provides information on specific pesticides and how to deal with poisonings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Recommends emergency actions for acute poisonings and remedial actions for chronic problems.  Refers individuals to doctors and agencies.

N.C. DEHNR Pesticide Program 
(P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 225 N. McDowell St.; 919/733-3410):  Provides advice on remedial actions to take after being poisoned.  Enters reports of pesticide poisonings into a computerized database.

U.S. EPA National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN) Hotline 
(TTU-HSC, Thompson Hall, Rm. S129, Lubbock, TX 79430; 800/858-7378):  Provides information on particular pesticides, including how to treat a poisoning. 

		PUBLICATION:

Common Sense Pest Control.  William Olkowski, et al.  Edited by Christine Timmons.  Newtown, CT:  Taunton Press, 1991.  Also available from Bio Integral Resource Center (BIRC) (P.O. Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707; 415/524-5267).