As a fellow member of the Environment Section, I would like to announce the launch this month of the new National Pesticide Information Center's website and the resources of interest for public health professionals.

More than 200 pages of original pesticide content are now available on topics such as safe use practices, steps to reduce pesticide risk to the people and the environment, and low-toxicity strategies for pest control in the garden and home. The new site includes fact sheets and podcasts available in English and Spanish and can be found at http://npic.orst.edu/

NPIC receives more than 25,000 questions from all 50 states and several countries each year and can address questions in more than 170 different languages. You are welcome to distribute our phone number in publications; you may also make direct referrals.

Whether you're a public health professional, homeowner or physician, you can get objective information about pesticides used for controlling everything from bed bugs to weeds.

Reach the National Pesticide Information Center at (800) 858-7378, 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday or by e-mail at npic@ace.orst.edu