Under the authority of California Food and Agricultural Code Section 11454.1, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) conducts scientific peer review of human health risk assessments prepared by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).
Pesticides
OEHHA performs a variety of activities related to the protection of human health from toxic effects of pesticides. These activities include providing education and outreach to the general public, health care professionals, and other state and local agencies; performing surveillance of pesticide illness and injury; evaluating pesticide toxicity data and human exposure; and developing regulations on agricultural worker health and safety. OEHHA works in collaboration with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) on many of these activities.
Invasive Species
Human health assessment of insecticides used to control invasive species
Clinician Trainings
Trainings for physicians and nurses on pesticide related illnesses
Peer Review
Peer review of pesticide toxicology data and human health risk assessments
Health Education Resources
Educational materials for health care providers, their patients, and local health departments
Medical Supervision Program
A California program to prevent excessive exposure to organophosphate and carbamate pesticides
Illness Reporting by Health Professionals
Reporting instructions and requirements for health care providers and local health departments
California Department of Public Health info sheet on How Farmworkers can Stay Safe from Coronavirus (English), (Spanish)
Department of Industrial Relations/CalOSHA Guidance on COVID-19 Infection Prevention for Agricultural Employers and Employees (English), (Spanish), (Chinese)
California Department of Pesticide Regulation revised guidance document for pesticide handlers: Gloves (English), (Spanish)
California Department of Pesticide Regulation guidance related to sanitizers & cleaning products used in School & Child Care (Available in English and Spanish)
Questions about Pesticides? Contact the Pesticides office: (510) 622-3200 or email Pesticides@oehha.ca.gov.
To access all documents related to pesticides, visit the searchable database webpage.
Reports, Notices, Documents
Under the authority of California Food and Agricultural Code Section 12980 and 12981, OEHHA has prepared health-based recommendations for DPR to address potential cancer risks to occupational bystanders from the use of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D).
The California Department Pesticide Regulation has proposed new regulations, developed jointly and mutually with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, to protect occupational bystanders in the general vicinity of a treated field to reduce the risk of 1,3-D exposure.
A list of registered medical supervisors in the biomonitoring program who measure cholinesterase activity in blood samples collected from agricultural workers who regularly handle category I and II organophosphate and carbamate pesticides.
Health assessment memorandum to the California Department of Food and Agriculture detailing OEHHA’s health evaluation based on environmental monitoring data collected during the 2021-2023 application of Acelepryn® and Acelepryn G® (active ingredient chlorantraniliprole) to non-commercial turf for Japanese Beetle eradication in Sacramento County.