INFORMATION FOR HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS;

Mandatory Reporting

Effective March 1, 2004 Maryland regulation (Code of Maryland Regulation 10.06.01) requires that health care providers (physician, physicians assistant, chiropractor, nurse practitioner, nurses, medical examiner, clinic, nursing home or any other licensed health care provider) and hospitals submit a report of diagnosed or suspected cases of pesticide related illness to the Commissioner of Health in Baltimore City or the health officer in the county where provider cares for that person.

To report online, go to www.cha.state.md.us/oeh/html/pesticide.html

Questions aBout Pesticide illness reporting?
Contact Clifford S. Mitchell, MS, MD, MPH, Director, Environmental Health Coordination Program, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) cmitchell@dhmh.state.md.us

Biomonitoring lab

Upon physician request, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene laboratories

Administration Division of Environmental Chemistry conducts biomonitoring testing for 11 organochlorines, 6 organophosphates, pyrethroid metabolite and heavy metals. For information on specific tests and how and when to submit a patient's urine sample contact Ms. Deborah Miller-Tuck, Director, Toxic Organics Program at 410.767.4388 or millertuck@dhmh.state.md.us.

Diagnosing Pesticide Injury

For information on taking a pesticide exposure history go to: www.mdpestnet.org/history.pdf.

For a brief overview of diagnosing and treating pesticide injuries go to: www.mdpestnet.org/ diagnostreatmnt.pdf, and www.mdpestnet.org/diagnostreatchart.pdf.

For the on-line version of US EPA Office of Pesticides Program’s handbook on “Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings” go to: www.epa.gov/oppfead1/ safety/healthcare/handbook/handbook.