[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30942-30943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11522]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service


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

    The NTP Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction 
(CERHR) Expert Panel Report on the Developmental and Reproductive 
Toxicity of Methanol: Notice of Availability and Request for Public 
Comments

Summary

    Notice is hereby given of the availability of the Expert Panel 
Report on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Methanol. This 
report includes 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 methanol. The CERHR 
held this expert panel meeting in October 2001. CERHR is seeking public 
comment on these reports and additional information about recent, 
relevant toxicology or human exposure studies.

Availability of Reports

    The expert panel report is available electronically on the CERHR 
web site (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) and in printed copy by contacting 
the CERHR (PO Box 12233, MD EC-32, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; 
telephone: (919) 541-3455; fax: (919) 316-4511; or e-mail: 
[email protected]).

Request for Public Comments

    The CERHR invites public comments on the expert panel report and 
input regarding any recent, relevant toxicology or human exposure 
studies. The CERHR asks that all comments and other information be 
submitted to the

[[Page 30943]]

CERHR at the address above by July 8, 2002.
    All public comments received by this date will be reviewed and 
included in the final NTP-CERHR report on methanol to be prepared by 
NTP staff. The NTP-CERHR report will include the expert panel report, 
public comments received on the report, and an NTP brief. The brief 
will provide the NTP's interpretation of the potential for adverse 
reproductive and/or developmental effects to humans from exposure to 
methanol. The NTP will transmit the NTP-CERHR report to the appropriate 
federal and state agencies, the public, and the scientific community.

Background

    A 12-member expert panel composed of scientists from state and 
federal governments, universities, and industry conducted an evaluation 
of the reproductive and developmental toxicities of methanol (Federal 
Register Vol. 66, No. 136, pp. 37047-37048, July 16, 2001). Public 
deliberations by the panel took place October 15-17, 2001 at the 
Radisson Hotel Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia. Following the October 
meeting, the draft expert panel report was revised to incorporate the 
panel's conclusions and subsequently reviewed by the Methanol Expert 
Panel, NTP scientists, and CERHR personnel.
    Methanol (CASRN: 67-56-1) is a commercially important, high 
production volume chemical (2.2 billion gallons, US production, 1998), 
with high potential for occupational, consumer, and environmental 
exposure. Methanol is used in chemical syntheses and as an industrial 
solvent. It is found in a variety of consumer products such as paints, 
antifreeze, cleaning solutions, and adhesives and is a by-product of 
sewage treatment, fermentation, and paper production. Methanol is used 
in racing car fuels, and there is the potential for future, expanded 
use of methanol as a vehicle fuel or fuel additive.

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 address above). The CERHR also 
serves as a resource for information on various environmental exposures 
and their potential to affect pregnancy and child development. The web 
site 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: May 1, 2002.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
[FR Doc. 02-11522 Filed 5-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P