N.Y. Public Health Law § 2475: Special policies with respect to dioxin exposure

§ 2475. Special policies with respect to dioxin exposure. 1. For the

purpose of identifying persons who were exposed to an herbicide

containing dioxin and for the purpose of compiling data on the health

effects of this exposure, the commissioner of health shall:

(a) establish, promote and maintain a public information program on

dioxin. Such program shall include, but may not be limited to, an effort

to contact Vietnam era veterans and employees of the public and private

sectors within the state who were exposed to an herbicide containing

dioxin;

(b) initiate an epidemiological study of the health effects of

exposure to herbicides containing dioxin;

(c) maintain a central data bank within the department for information

collected on the health effects of exposure to dioxin and for the

cataloguing of existing scientific and medical literature on the health

effects of this exposure; and

(d) initiate education for health professionals to assist them in

understanding the potential risks and state-of-the-art knowledge with

regard to detection, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic

symptoms associated with dioxin exposure.

2. The commissioner may request and shall receive from any department,

division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or of any

political subdivision thereof such assistance and data as will enable

him to properly carry out his activities hereunder and effectuate the

purposes herein set forth. The commissioner may also enter into any

contract for services as he deems necessary with a private agency or

concern upon said terms and conditions as he deems appropriate.

Information concerning patient and medical data provided to the

commissioner pursuant to this subdivision shall be kept confidential

according to the provisions of paragraph (j) of subdivision one of

section two hundred six of this chapter.