[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 46 (Friday, March 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10734-10735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5652]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service


National Toxicology Program (NTP); National Institute of 
Environmental Health Science (NIEHS)

    The NTP Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction 
(CERHR) Announces the Availability of and Requests Public Comments on 
Two Expert Panel Reports: Expert Panel Report on the Developmental and 
Reproductive Toxicity of 1-Bromopropane and Expert Panel Report on the 
Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of 2-Bromopropane.

Summary

    Notice is hereby given of the availability of the Expert Panel 
Report on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of 1-Bromopropane 
and the Expert Panel Report on the

[[Page 10735]]

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of 2-Bromopropane. These 
reports include the summaries and conclusions of the expert panel's 
evaluation of the scientific data for potential reproductive and/or 
developmental hazards associated with exposure to 1-bromopropane and 2-
bromopropane. The CERHR held this expert panel meeting in December 
2001. CERHR is seeking public comment on these reports and additional 
information about recent, relevant toxicology studies or human 
exposure.

Availability of Reports

    Copies of the two expert panel reports are available electronically 
on the CERHR Web site (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov). To receive a 
printed copy of either report, please contact the CERHR at P.O. Box 
12233, MD EC-32, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (mail), (919) 541-
3455 (phone), (919) 316-4511 (fax), or [email protected] (email).

Request for Public Comments

    The CERHR invites public comments on the expert panel reports and 
input regarding any recent, relevant toxicology data or human exposure 
information for either chemical. The CERHR asks that all comments and 
other information be submitted to the CERHR at the address above by 
[Please insert date 60 days from publication of this notice].
    All public comments on these reports received by this date will be 
reviewed and included in the final NTP-CERHR reports prepared by NTP 
staff. The NTP-CERHR report for each chemical will include the expert 
panel report, public comments received on the report, and the NTP 
brief. The NTP brief will provide the NTP's interpretation of the 
potential for adverse reproductive and/or developmental effects to 
humans from exposure to the chemical. The NTP will transmit the NTP-
CERHR reports to the appropriate federal and state agencies, the 
public, and the scientific community.

Background

    A 10-member expert panel composed of scientists from state and 
federal governments, universities, and industry conducted an evaluation 
of the reproductive and developmental toxicities of 1-bromopropane and 
2-bromopropane [Federal Register (Vol. 66, No. 156, pp. 42548-42549, 
August 13, 2001)]. Public deliberations by the panel took place 
December 5-7, 2001 at the Hilton Washington-Dulles Hotel in Herndon, 
Virginia. Following the December meeting, the draft expert panel 
reports were revised to incorporate the panel's conclusions, and 
subsequently reviewed by the Bromopropanes Expert Panel, NTP 
scientists, and CERHR personnel.
    1-Bromopropane is used as a solvent for fats, waxes, or resins and 
as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, insecticides, 
quaternary ammonium compounds, flavors, or fragrances. It is also used 
as a vehicle in spray adhesives and as a cold bath degreaser. 2-
Bromopropane is used as an intermediate in the synthesis of 
pharmaceuticals, dyes, and other compounds; the extent of these uses 
and associated human exposures is unknown. 2-Bromopropane is also 
present as a contaminant in 1-bromopropane. Bromopropane are being 
considered as replacement chemicals for ozone-depleting chemicals such 
as hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorinated solvents.

Additional Information About CERHR

    The NTP and the NIEHS established the NTP CERHR in June 1998 
[Federal Register (Vol. 63, No. 239, p. 68782, December 1998)].
    The purpose of the CERHR is to provide scientifically-based, 
uniform assessments of the potential for adverse effects on 
reproduction and development caused by agents to which humans may be 
exposed. Further information on the CERHR's chemical review process 
including how to nominate chemicals for evaluation and scientists for 
the expert registry can be obtained from its Web site (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) or by contacting the CERHR directly (see contact 
information above).
    The CERHR also serves as a resource for information on various 
environmental exposures and their potential to affect pregnancy and 
child development. Its Web site (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) has 
information about common concerns related to fertility, pregnancy and 
the health of unborn children, and links to other resources for 
information about public health.

    Dated: February 8, 2002.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
[FR Doc. 02-5652 Filed 3-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P