Federal law defines a pesticide as "any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest." Pests can be insects; animals such as mice; weeds or other unwanted plants; fungi; or microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Pesticides include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, growth regulators, rodenticides, disinfectants, and biocides that are used in and on homes, gardens, farms and other locations.

The uses of pesticides are regulated under both federal and state law. In North Carolina, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NC-DACS) regulates the use of pesticide products, while staff in the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch (OEEB) of the Division of Public Health work to address public health concerns regarding pesticides. The staff in OEEB include toxicologists, industrial hygienists, physicians, and an occupational health nurse. Their responsibilities include:

• Responding to questions and concerns from the general public about health and environmental effects of pesticide exposures;
• Conducting site evaluations and exposure assessments where pesticides have been applied;
• Participating in multi-agency research studies on pesticide exposures and health-related issues;
• Serving on committees and boards that oversee the regulatory and advisory programs on pesticides; and
• Monitoring acute pesticide-related illness and injury to determine the number of citizens who become ill from using pesticides, what groups are affected most, and the root causes of over-exposure. Data are used to recommend ways to improve handling practices.