§ 2475 — Special policies with respect to dioxin exposure

§ 2475. Special policies with respect to dioxin exposure. 1. For the\npurpose of identifying persons who were exposed to an herbicide\ncontaining dioxin and for the purpose of compiling data on the health\neffects of this exposure, the commissioner of health shall:\n (a) establish, promote and maintain a public information program on\ndioxin. Such program shall include, but may not be limited to, an effort\nto contact Vietnam era veterans and employees of the public and private\nsectors within the state who were exposed to an herbicide containing\ndioxin;\n (b) initiate an epidemiological study of the health effects of\nexposure to herbicides containing dioxin;\n (c) maintain a central data bank within the department for information\ncollected on the health effects of exposure to dioxin and for the\ncataloguing of existing scientific and medical literature on the health\neffects of this exposure; and\n (d) initiate education for health professionals to assist them in\nunderstanding the potential risks and state-of-the-art knowledge with\nregard to detection, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic\nsymptoms associated with dioxin exposure.\n 2. The commissioner may request and shall receive from any department,\ndivision, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or of any\npolitical subdivision thereof such assistance and data as will enable\nhim to properly carry out his activities hereunder and effectuate the\npurposes herein set forth. The commissioner may also enter into any\ncontract for services as he deems necessary with a private agency or\nconcern upon said terms and conditions as he deems appropriate.\nInformation concerning patient and medical data provided to the\ncommissioner pursuant to this subdivision shall be kept confidential\naccording to the provisions of paragraph (j) of subdivision one of\nsection two hundred six of this chapter.\n