[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 6950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3470]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service


National Toxicology Program

    National Toxicology Program (NTP) Board of Scientific Counselors 
Meeting; Review of Draft Technical Reports on Alternating Magnetic 
Field Studies in Rodents.
    Pursuant to Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given of the next 
meeting of the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors' Technical Reports 
Review Subcommittee on March 11, 1998, in the Conference Center, 
Building 101, South Campus, National Institute of Environmental Health 
Sciences (NIEHS), 111 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North 
Carolina. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m., and is open to the 
public. The agenda topic is the peer review of draft Technical Reports 
of long-term toxicology and carcinogenesis studies and shorter-term 
mechanistic studies in rodents on 50 Hz and 60 Hz magnetic fields (EMF) 
from the National Toxicology Program.

Background

    The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Electric Power Research 
Institute (EPRI) in 1988 nominated 60 Hertz (Hz) (power line frequency) 
electric and magnetic fields (EMF) to the NIEHS/NTP for evaluation in 
NTP toxicology and carcinogenesis studies. This nomination was prompted 
by reports suggesting an association between EMF exposure and increased 
risk for childhood leukemia as well as reports on mammary tumors in 
rodent models for experimental carcinogenesis. In response, the NTP has 
conducted a series of conventional rodent toxicity and cancer studies. 
After the NTP studies started, the Congress passed an Energy Policy Act 
(Section 2118 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992; 42 USC 13478) which 
provided for an accelerated research program. Under this act, 
additional studies were conducted to explore the possibility that 
magnetic fields could promote breast cancer in rats.

Agenda

    There will be an orientation to the NTP study process followed by 
peer review of the draft Technical Report of the two-year toxicology 
and carcinogenesis studies of 60 Hz EMF with four exposure intensities 
and sham controls in both sexes of B6C3F, mice and F344/N rats. The 
meeting will conclude with peer review of the draft Technical Report of 
two 13-week and one 26-week DMBA initiation/magnetic field promotion 
studies. Copies of the draft Reports may be obtained, as available, 
from: Central Data Management, MD E1-02, P.O. Box 12233, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27709 (919/541-3419), FAX (919/541-3687), email: 
[email protected]. The Internet EMF RAPID Program web site is http://
www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/home.hym.

Public Comment

    Persons wanting to make a formal presentation must notify the 
Executive Secretary by telephone, FAX, mail, or email no later than 
March 6, 1998, and, if possible, provide a written copy in advance of 
the meeting so copies can be made and distributed to all Subcommittee 
members, ad hoc expert consultants, and staff, and made available for 
attendees at the meeting. Written statements should supplement and may 
expand on the oral presentation. Oral presentations should be limited 
to no more than five minutes. The Program would welcome receiving 
toxicology and carcinogenesis information from completed, ongoing, or 
planned studies by others on electric and magnetic fields. Please 
contact Central Data Management at the address given above, and they 
will relay the information to the appropriate staff scientist.
    The Executive Secretary, Dr. Larry G. Hart, P.O. Box 12233, 
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 (telephone 919/541-3971; 
FAX 919/541-0295; email [email protected]) will furnish an agenda, a 
roster of Subcommittee members and expert consultants, and a brief 
background/overview on the EMF studies program prior to the meeting. 
Summary minutes subsequent to the meeting will be available upon 
request to Central Data Management.

    Dated: February 3, 1998.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Deputy Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 98-3470 Filed 2-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M