[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70226-70227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29669]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30DAY-05-03]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under

[[Page 70227]]

review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy 
of these requests, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 498-
1210. Send written comments to CDC, Desk Officer, Human Resources and 
Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, 
DC 20503. Written comments should be received within 30 days of this 
notice.

Proposed Project

    Longitudinal Surveillance for Beryllium Disease Prevention OMB No. 
0920-0463 (formerly titled Gene-Environment Interactions in Beryllium 
Sensitization and Disease Among Current and Former Beryllium Industry 
Workers)--Extension--National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health (NIOSH)--Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background

    Beryllium is a light weight metal with wide application in modern 
technology. The size of the USA workforce at risk of beryllium exposure 
is estimated at approximately one million, with exposed workers in 
primary production, nuclear power and weapons, aerospace, scrap metal 
reclaiming, specialty ceramics, and electronics industries. Demand for 
beryllium is growing worldwide, which means that increasing numbers of 
workers are likely to be exposed. An acute pneumonitis due to 
occupational exposure to beryllium was common in the 1940s and 1950s, 
but has virtually disappeared with improvements in work-site control 
measures. However, even with improved controls as many as 5% of 
currently-exposed workers will develop chronic beryllium disease (CBD).
    CBD is a chronic granulomatous lung disease mediated through a 
poorly understood immunologic mechanism in workers who become 
sensitized. Sensitization can be detected using a blood test, that is 
used by the industry as a surveillance tool. The blood test for 
sensitization was first reported in 1989, but many questions remain 
about the natural history of sensitization and disease, as well as 
exposure risk factors. Sensitized workers, identified through workplace 
surveillance programs, undergo clinical diagnostic tests to determine 
whether they have CBD. The proportion of sensitized workers who have 
beryllium disease at initial clinical evaluation has varied from 41-
100% in different workplaces. Sensitized workers often develop CBD with 
follow-up, but whether all sensitized workers will eventually develop 
beryllium disease is unknown. Early diagnosis at the subclinical stage 
and careful follow-up seems prudent in that CBD usually responds to 
corticosteroid treatment. However, the efficacy of screening in 
preventing adverse outcomes of the disease has not yet been evaluated. 
Research has indicated certain genetic determinants in the risk of CBD; 
follow-up studies will be invaluable for further characterizing the 
genetic contribution to sensitization and disease.
    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
wants to determine how beryllium workers and former workers develop 
beryllium disease and how to prevent it. Through the proposed study, 
NIOSH has the opportunity to contribute to the scientific understanding 
of this disease in the context of environmental and genetic etiologic 
factors. The goals of this investigation are to: (1) Determine the 
occurrence of beryllium sensitization or disease; (2) seek an 
association with exposure measurements; (3) explore genetic 
determinants of susceptibility to CBD; and (4) characterize genetic 
determinants to ascertain if they are associated with clinical 
impairment or progression of disease. Through a greater understanding 
of the environmental and genetic risk factors associated with the onset 
and progression of CBD, NIOSH will be able to develop strategies for 
both primary and secondary prevention applicable to beryllium-exposed 
workers. The total annualized burden for this data collection is 263 
hours.

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                                                                                   Number of       Avg. burden/
                         Respondents                              Number of        responses/     response  (in
                                                                 respondents       respondent         hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former Workers...............................................             525                1            30/60
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    Dated: November 13, 2002.
Nancy E. Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-29669 Filed 11-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P