[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 16248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7236]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[ATSDR-166]


Availability of Draft Chemical Technical Summary on Malathion

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments 
and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), Section 104 (i)(4) [42 U.S.C. 
9604(i)(4)], directs the Administrator of ATSDR to provide 
informational materials on request on health issues relating to 
exposure to hazardous or toxic substances to the Administrator of the 
EPA, State officials, and local officials. A chemical technical summary 
provides information on a specific public health issue related to real 
or possible exposure and is a method ATSDR uses to respond rapidly to 
requests for assistance and public health needs. The chemical technical 
summary will aid public health and public safety professionals in 
evaluating symptoms and conducting surveillance of human exposure to 
toxic material.
    This notice announces that a chemical technical summary on 
malathion is now available for public comment. This ATSDR chemical 
technical summary reviews the scientific literature describing the 
relationship between exposure to malathion and possible resultant 
health effects.

DATES: In order to be considered, comments on this draft chemical 
technical summary must be received within forty-five (45) days from the 
date of this publication. Comments received after the close of the 
public comment period will be considered at the discretion of ATSDR 
based upon what is deemed to be in the best interest of the general 
public.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the draft chemical technical summary 
should be sent to: Ms. Franchetta Stephens, Division of Toxicology, 
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop E-29, 1600 
Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone 1-(888) 422-8737 or 
(404) 639-6345. Written comments regarding the draft chemical technical 
summary should be sent to the same address. ATSDR reserves the right to 
provide only one copy of the draft chemical technical summary free of 
charge. The document may also be accessed at the ATSDR Home page News 
section at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
    Written comments submitted in response to this notice should bear 
the docket control number ATSDR-166. Because all public comments 
regarding ATSDR-166 chemical technical summary will be available for 
inspection, no confidential business information or personal medical 
information should be submitted in response to this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Division of Toxicology, Agency for 
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mailstop E-29, 1600 Clifton 
Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide 
commonly used to control mosquitos and other flying insects, especially 
during outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, to protect public health. 
Malathion is toxic to aquatic organisms, but has a relatively low 
toxicity for birds and mammals. The principal toxicological effect of 
malathion is cholinesterase inhibition, due primarily to malaoxon and 
to phosphorus thionate impurities. Levels of malathion used for wide-
area treatment to protect the public from mosquito-carrying diseases 
are not likely to result in harmful effects in individuals who are not 
directly exposed during spraying.

    Dated: March 16, 2001.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 01-7236 Filed 3-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P