Request for Public Comment on a Nomination to the Office of Health Assessment and Translation, 41406 [2012-17114]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 135 (Friday, July 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 41406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17114]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Request for Public Comment on a Nomination to the Office of 
Health Assessment and Translation

AGENCY: Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), National 
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes 
of Health (NIH).

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The NTP requests comments on Air Pollution and Children's 
Health, which was nominated for a possible evaluation by the Office of 
Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT). This nomination focuses on 
substances, mixtures, and exposure circumstances (collectively referred 
to as ``substances'') related to traffic/near road air pollution and 
their association with emerging children's health outcomes.

DATES: The deadline for submission of public comments on the nominated 
substances is August 24, 2012; comments submitted after this date will 
be considered as time permits.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Dr. Kembra Howdeshell, Office of 
Health Assessment and Translation, DNTP, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD K2-
04, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; telephone (919) 316-4708; FAX: 
(919) 316-4511; howdeshellkl@niehs.nih.gov. Courier address: NIEHS, 
Room 2161, 530 Davis Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560. Comments can also be 
submitted online at the OHAT Web site (https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/evals).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kembra Howdeshell (telephone: 
(919) 316-4708 or email howdeshellkl@niehs.nih.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Public Comment on Nomination to OHAT

    The NTP requests public comment on the nomination of Air Pollution 
and Children's Health for possible evaluation by OHAT. Specifically, 
the NTP requests information on the following topics: (1) Current 
exposures and health outcomes considered in this nomination (see list 
below and the draft literature search strategy provided on the OHAT Web 
site (https://ntp.niehs.gov/go/evals), (2) published, ongoing, or 
planned studies related to traffic/near road air pollution and 
children's health, (3) scientific issues important for assessing 
emerging health outcomes in children associated with traffic/near road 
air pollution, and (4) names of scientists with expertise or knowledge 
about traffic/near road air pollution and children's health. Please 
include any available bibliographic citations for the information. The 
NTP will use this information for refining the draft literature search 
strategy for the nomination prior to a potential formal evaluation by 
OHAT.
    The exposures associated with the nomination include air pollution 
and the following components: benzene, carbon monoxide, diesel, 
nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulate matter (PM10, 
PM2.5, coarse PM, and ultrafine PM), polyaromatic 
hydrocarbons, and sulfur oxides. The emerging children's health 
outcomes associated with the nomination include: Incidence and 
exacerbation of asthma, incidence of allergic disease, adverse birth 
outcomes (i.e., premature birth, small for gestational age birth 
weight, and congenital anomalies), respiratory infections in early 
life, pediatric cancer, development of the nervous system, modifying 
risk of adult onset diseases (i.e., fetal basis of adult 
cardiovascular, metabolic or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), 
and compromised lung function, development, and growth. Several 
important air contaminants, including tobacco smoke, mercury, lead, 
arsenic, indoor aeroallergens, and indoor volatile organic compounds, 
are not included because they have been addressed in other 
comprehensive reviews.
    Persons submitting public comments are asked to include their name, 
contact information, affiliation, and sponsoring organization (if any) 
and to send them to Dr. Howdeshell (see ADDRESSES above). All 
information received will be posted on the OHAT Web site and the 
submitter identified by name, affiliation, and sponsoring organization, 
if applicable. The deadline for submission of public comment is August 
24, 2012. Comments and information received after that date will be 
added to the public record and used by the NTP, as time permits, in 
refining the literature search strategy and scope of this nomination 
for potential evaluation by OHAT.

Background Information on OHAT

    The NTP and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
established the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) to 
serve as an environmental health resource to the public and to 
regulatory and health agencies. This office conducts evaluations to 
assess the evidence that environmental chemicals, physical substances, 
or mixtures (collectively referred to as ``substances'') cause adverse 
health effects and provides opinions on whether these substances may be 
of concern given what is known about current human exposure levels. 
OHAT evaluations are published as NTP Monographs. OHAT also organizes 
state-of-the-science workshops to address issues of importance in 
environmental health sciences. Information about the OHAT is available 
on the OHAT Web site (https://ntp.niehs.gov/go/ohat) or by contacting 
Dr. Howdeshell (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: July 5, 2012.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-17114 Filed 7-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P