The first three steps are things you can do ahead of time to avoid pesticide drift and injury. If spraying is about to occur or has already occurred, skip to step 4.

1. The first step is to notify people who might be spraying in your area that you are concerned about exposure to pesticides.

Tell them you don't want to be exposed to pesticides through drift, runoff, or vaporization. You might tell people about any disabilities (chemical sensitivities, allergies, and asthma, for example) that might cause their spraying to deny you access to your own property and the use of public facilities. (This is an approach that is successful for some people.) If you have a farm that is certified organic where the certification is in danger, some people respond to lost money. Similarly, bees are vulnerable to insecticides. (On the other hand, some people worry that notifying people about such things will provoke spiteful pesticide attacks. Use your best judgment on this.)

2. The second step is to ask those people who might spray near you to notify you in advance so that you can protect yourself, your family, and your property.

(Unfortunately, the experience of many people is that the times that they don't notify you are the times when the spraying is worst--for example, when they've been waiting for days for the wind to die down, and they finally give up.) However, if you are notified in advance, it will help in several ways.

Some communities have laws requiring notification of impending pesticide applications in some or all cases. Some states have passed laws that prohibit communities from passing such ordinances. Beyond Pesticides/NCAMP is currently compiling a list of statutes and ordinances concerning notification. Contact us for information.

3. If county or township roadside spraying is a problem, post your roadside with "do not spray" signs and notify the appropriate county/township personnel.

Some cities and counties require a specific sign that they will recognize and you must register for it at the appropriate office. (Notifying the appropriate person may not be as easy as it sounds. For example, in some townships, the road grader is the one who sprays. He may not work in an office. You have to reach him at home, and he may not return messages.)

4. If you know that there will be spraying in your area:

If the sprayer won't give you a copy, get the name of the product as completely as possible, and call the state enforcement agency and ask for a label. Or check out EPA's label files.

(Ha! Where to? Usually when they are spraying one place, they are spraying all over. That's why we said, "If it's possible...") If you can't, stay inside during the spraying and immediately after, with the windows closed. Then it gets tricky. At what point is it better to open the windows and let in fresh air? That will depend on a lot of things, including the temperature (chemicals vaporize faster in hotter weather), rain (some will wash off, but some will be activated by rain), wind direction (towards you or away), and, of course, what was sprayed. If the stuff is smelly, then your nose can be a guide, but sometimes the smell comes from stuff that's added to the actual poison--you don't know that the poison is gone just because the smelly stuff breaks down.

5. When they spray:

6. If there is drift, or you suspect drift, of the pesticide onto you or your property, call the state agency and EPA to file a pesticide misuse complaint. Ask them to send an investigator.

In addition, you should report any application that drifts into a body of water (in many cases, this is illegal) and anything that appears unsafe (spraying around a school bus stop, for example.)

7. After the most urgent steps have been taken care of:

Call the landowner, farmer, or pesticide applicator to find out what pesticide was used.
The name could be given as a trade name or a common name ("active ingredients"). Try to get both. Other important identifiers are the Chemical Abstracts System (CAS) numbers for the active ingredients and the manufacturer.

Find out possible ill effects of exposure and what you can do to mitigate them.
An important source of information is the pesticide label. The label is somewhat useful as a source of information about the pesticide hazards, but it is also a legal document that prescribes application methods and precautions. It may be available from the applicator, the state agency or Beyond Pesticides.
The product's material safety data sheet or MSDS may be obtained from the applicator, state agency, or here.
Additional information is available from several sources, including the Beyond Pesticides/NCAMP: 202-543-5450 (info@beyondpesticides.org) and the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP: 541-344-5044 http://www.efn.org/~ncap or email info@pesticide.org)

Take recommended medical measures

MAYBE Wash herbicide residues off valuable trees and shrubs after taking samples.
You should weigh several things before undertaking this step. First, your case may be weakened if evidence is removed before an official takes samples. Therefore, it may be a good idea to have an independent person with you when taking samples if you choose to try to save your plants while waiting for an investigator. (See below for sampling suggestions.) Finally, some herbicides are activated by water, in which case you should make sure to eliminate all traces of the herbicide.

Document the damage:

1. In the case of herbicides, it is important to document the condition of susceptible plants before and after the damage is apparent. Most herbicides will show their effects 1-7 days after the application. Take photographs immediately after the application to show condition of plants before the chemical affects them, and later take follow-up shots from the same angles. (Take notes.) Try to take pictures or series of pictures that focus on leaves and growing tips of plants, but which also establish their location relative to some recognizable landmark. Take samples of vegetation near and at several distances from the site of application. Place in separate, clean, tightly sealed plastic bags (double-bagging is better) in the freezer. Take caution when collecting and storing samples to avoid exposure as much as possible.
2. In the case of physical illness of people or animals, see a physician or veterinarian to confirm symptoms, obtain a diagnosis, and receive treatment. Get a written report signed by the physician or veterinarian. (Note: Many physicians and veterinarians are not familiar with the symptoms of pesticide poisoning, many of which resemble symptoms of a cold or flu. Tell them about your exposure, and ask them to check the symptoms. Blood or urine tests may be necessary.)
3. In the case of a bee kill, examine the hives immediately. Unusual behavior, lack of bees in the hive, and unusually high mortality (more than 100 bees per day) are good indications of pesticide poisoning. Call the state agency to arrange for a hive inspection. Collect a handful of dead bees and put them in the freezer in a clean tightly sealed plastic bag for possible analysis.
4. Try to eliminate other possible causes for the damage: disease, pest damage, drought, low oxygen levels in ponds, etc.
5. It is always helpful to have an impartial witness accompany you in collecting the evidence. (Note: If the state agency sends an investigator, he/she will do these things. However, the investigator often arrives too late--two weeks or more after the incident--to document the damage.)
6. Write all this down as soon as possible.
7. Keep a record of every phone call and conversation regarding the incident (name, date, time, and substance). Write letters confirming your understanding of the substance of the phone call when you receive important information--state the major points of the conversation and request a response within five days if the other person disagrees with your statements.

8. Legal recourse.
There are two main avenues of legal recourse--action taken by the state or EPA against the applicator because of violations of the law and civil action to recover compensation for damages.

9. Tell us what happened.
Beyond Pesticides/NCAMP monitors the effectiveness of state and federal enforcement programs, so we will know the real risks associated with pesticides. Please tell us what happened and how well the state agency and EPA responded.

10. Join Beyond Pesticides/NCAMP and help eliminate pesticide problems.
Beyond Pesticides/NCAMP works to help you and others when you have been injured by pesticides. We also work to eliminate these problems by demonstrating to decision-makers the real costs associated with pesticide use. You can help us by joining us today.