[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 101 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28750-28751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13128]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry


Notice of Meeting; Hair Analysis, Exploring State-of-the-Science 
Panel Discussion

    Name: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 
announces panel discussion: Hair Analysis, Exploring the State-of-the-
Science.
    Times and Dates: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., June 12, 2001; 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 
June 13, 2001.
    Place: Radisson Hotel, Executive Park Atlanta, 2061 N. Druid Hills 
Road, Atlanta, GA, 30329. To make hotel reservations, please call the 
hotel directly at 404-321-4174. Reference the ``Hair Analysis Panel'' 
to receive the group rate of $78.00 plus 12% tax. You must make your 
reservation before May 20, 2001. After this date any remaining rooms 
will be released from our block and sold on a space and rate available 
basis.
    Purpose: ATSDR is holding a panel discussion to review and discuss 
the current state-of-the-science related to hair analysis. ATSDR has 
invited a cross-section of scientists with expertise in fields 
including hair analysis, toxicology, and medicine to participate in 
1\1/2\ days of discussions on a variety of topics, including analytical 
methods, factors affecting the interpretation of analytical results, 
toxicologic considerations, and data gaps/research needs. Panel 
discussions will explore whether hair analysis is a useful tool in 
evaluating exposures to hazardous substances present in the 
environment. ATSDR will use the scientific input received as part of 
the discussions to develop a framework for determining when measuring 
contaminant levels in hair can help support scientifically defensible 
public health evaluations.
    Status: Open to the public, limited only by space available. 
Seating is limited so please register in advance so that we can hold a 
space for you. Register by contacting ATSDR's contractor, Eastern 
Research Group, Inc. (ERG). ERG's meeting registration line is 781-674-
7374; when you call this number, reference the ``Hair Analysis Panel.'' 
A limited amount of time will be set aside for members of the public to 
present brief oral comments regarding hair analysis scientific issues. 
Oral presentations will be limited to 10 minutes, and the number of 
people giving oral comments may be limited by the time available. 
Opportunity for making oral comment will be provided on a first-come, 
first-served basis; therefore, the public is encouraged to register in 
advance to present oral comments by contacting ERG's registration line 
at 781-674-7374. The public may also submit written comments. ATSDR 
will incorporate oral and written comments into its summary report. The 
report will capture the salient points of panel discussions and 
observer comments. After the meeting, the agency will consider all 
scientific input received to support the development of interim 
guidance regarding the use of hair analysis in ATSDR's public health 
evaluations.
    Background Information: ATSDR conducts public health assessments to 
evaluate possible public health implications of contaminants associated

[[Page 28751]]

with hazardous waste sites and other environmental releases. An 
important step in ATSDR's assessment process is examining exposures to 
contaminants under site-specific conditions and determining whether 
people are being exposed to harmful levels. In most of the agency's 
evaluations, the environmental concentration serves as a surrogate for 
``exposure.''
    To refine its assessments and to fill data gaps, ATSDR sometimes 
identifies ways to more precisely quantify exposures, such as measuring 
body burdens of a particular contaminant or its metabolites (e.g., lead 
in blood). On a site-by-site basis, ATSDR evaluates what additional 
exposure data might be practical and useful to obtain to further 
support public health evaluations and ultimately to help determine the 
disease potential of a particular exposure. ATSDR seeks to determine 
the overall utility of hair analysis as one such exposure assessment 
tool. ATSDR's overall goal is to receive expert opinion on the 
following four general questions related to hair analysis. A number of 
specific questions related to these issues will also be discussed.
     When is it appropriate to consider hair analysis in 
assessing human exposures to environmental contaminants?
     When is it inappropriate to consider hair analysis in 
assessing human exposures to environmental contaminants?
     What data gaps exist that limit the interpretation and use 
of hair analysis in the assessment of environmental exposures? What 
research is needed to fill these data gaps?
     For what substances do reliable hair analysis methods 
exist?
    Contact Person for More Information: Dr. Allan Susten, Assistant 
Director for Science, Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, 
ATSDR, at 404-639-0625 or Dr. Deanna Harkins, Medical Officer, 
Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, Division of 
Health Education and Promotion, ATSDR, at 404-639-4669. For questions 
about logistics, contact ERG at 781-674-7374.
    The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been 
delegated the authority to sign Federal Register Notices pertaining to 
announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, 
for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency 
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

    Dated: May 18, 2001.
John Burckhardt,
Acting Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 01-13128 Filed 5-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P