[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 168 (Monday, August 31, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 46225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23290]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[ATSDR-133]


Availability of the Interagency Workgroup Document, A Draft 
Report on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

AGENCY: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the draft document, 
A Report on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), by the Interagency 
Workgroup on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. The public is invited to 
comment on this draft report.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The report is available by contacting ATSDR's Information 
Center, 1600 Clifton Road, Mail Stop E57, Atlanta, GA 30333, 1-800-447-
1544, attention Alice Knox.
    Please submit written comments relating to the report to the same 
location. Because these comments may be made available upon public 
request, please do not send any personal, medical, or other information 
that you do not wish to make public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ATSDR's Information Center at the 
above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is the 
term most commonly applied to a health condition of interest to 
patients, health care providers, and health and environmental agencies 
alike. Symptoms range from minor discomfort to extreme disability and 
isolation.
    Because of the concern for the health and well-being of persons 
with symptoms of MCS, several federal agencies formed a workgroup in 
1995 to review scientific literature pertinent to MCS, consider 
recommendations from various expert panels on MCS, and develop 
technical and policy recommendations for the agencies to consider. The 
departments and agencies represented on the Interagency Workgroup on 
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity are: Department of Defense, Department of 
Energy, Department of Health and Human Services (Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 
National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, National Institute of Environmental 
Health Sciences), Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.
    The Department of Health and Human Services' Environmental Health 
Policy Committee (EHPC), chaired by the Assistant Secretary for Health, 
has monitored the preparation of the interagency report. The EHPC is 
the senior level policy committee for environmental health issues in 
the Department. The committee has liaison members from other federal 
departments that have environmental and public health responsibilities.
    The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is 
providing administrative support for the Interagency Workgroup's 
report. Comments on the report will be provided by ATSDR to the 
Interagency Workgroup for consideration.
    The workgroup has developed a draft document entitled, A Report on 
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Summary findings, research 
recommendations and policy recommendations are provided in this report.
    This document, A Report on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), and 
its availability for public comment is being announced through this 
Federal Register notice.

    Dated: August 25, 1998.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 98-23290 Filed 8-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P