What Are the Symptoms of Pesticide Exposure?
It depends on the pesticide. The EPA says some, such as organophosphates and carbamates, affect the nervous system, others may irritate the skin or eyes, some may be carcinogens, and others may affect the hormone or endocrine system.
For an exposure, the EPA says to call 911 if the person is unconscious, having trouble breathing or having convulsions, to check the product label for first aid directions, and to call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 for help with first aid. If pesticide splashes on the skin, it says to drench the area with water, remove contaminated clothing and wash skin and hair thoroughly with soap and water. The EPA's label manual gives wording telling people to have the product container or label with them when calling poison control or a doctor, or going for treatment.
Incidents can be reported. The EPA says you can file a report with the product's manufacturer, who is required by law to submit reports of adverse effects to the EPA and whose contact information is on the label, and that reports sent directly to the EPA should include the product name and EPA registration number with the location, date and description of the incident.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceThe EPA says pesticide health effects depend on the type, with organophosphates and carbamates affecting the nervous system, others irritating skin or eyes, some possibly carcinogens and others affecting hormones. US EPA ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA says to call 911 if someone exposed to a pesticide is unconscious, having trouble breathing or having convulsions, check the label for first aid, and call Poison Control at 800-222-1222. US EPA ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA says that if pesticide splashes on the skin, drench the area with water, remove contaminated clothing and wash skin and hair thoroughly with soap and water. US EPA ↗
- Regulatory filingThe EPA's Label Review Manual gives label wording telling people to have the product container or label with them when calling a poison control center or doctor, or going for treatment. US EPA, Label Review Manual ↗
- Regulatory filingThe EPA says pesticide manufacturers are required by law to submit reports of adverse effects to the EPA, and that their contact information is on the product label. US EPA ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA asks that incident reports include the product name and EPA registration number with the location, date and description, and stores them in its Incident Data System. US EPA ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.