Pesticide-induced illness. Public health aspects of diagnosis and treatment

Over the past 25 years there has been a remarkable proliferation of new chemicals into our environment, among them the 57,000 different trade-named pesticide formulations now for sale in the United States. With them have come many new problems to physicians needing up-to-the minute toxocologic information, and also sizable problems in public health. Technology must be harnessed to bring to physicians, when they need it, help in the diagnosis and treatment of poisoning and other adverse effects from modern chemicals, for at present it is impossible for the practicing physician to keep up with what is known and unknown about the toxicology of all of these chemicals.