[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 70957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30219]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60 Day-03-19]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda M. Perryman, 
CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.

Proposed Project:

    Exposure to Aerosolized Brevetoxins During Red Tide Events (OMB No. 
0920-0494)--Extension--National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background

    Gymnodinium breve is the marine dinoflagellate responsible for 
extensive blooms (called ``red tides'') that form in the gulf of 
Mexico. G. breve produces potent toxins, called brevetoxins, that have 
been responsible for killing millions of fish and other marine 
organisms. The biochemical activity of brevetoxins is not completely 
understood and there is very little information regarding human health 
effects from environmental exposures, such as inhaling brevetoxin that 
has been aerosolized and swept onto the coast by offshore winds. The 
National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning to recruit 100 people who work 
along the coast of Florida and who potentially will be occupationally 
exposed to aerosolized red tide toxins some time during the year 
following recruitment. We plan to administer a base-line respiratory 
health questionnaire and conduct pre- and post-shift pulmonary function 
tests during a time when there is no red tide reported near the area. 
When a red tide develops, we plan to administer a symptom survey and 
conduct pulmonary function testing (PFT) on a group of study 
participants who are working in the area where the red tide is near 
shore and on a control group of study participants who are not working 
in an area where the red tide is near shore (i.e., are not exposed to 
the red tide). We will then compare (1) symptom reports before and 
during the red tide and (2) the changes in baseline PFT values during 
the work shift (differences between pre- and post-shift PFT results 
without exposure to red tide) with the changes in PFT values during the 
work shift when individuals are exposed to red tide.
    In addition, we plan to assist in collecting biological specimens 
(inflammatory cells from nose and throat swabs) to assess whether they 
can be used to verify exposure and to demonstrate a biological effect 
(i.e., inflammatory response) from exposure to red tide. We have 
collected part of the data, but, because we are dealing with natural 
phenomena and are subject literally to the tides, we must extend our 
data collection time for an additional two years. There is no cost to 
respondents.

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                                                                      No. of      Average burden
                   Respondents                        No. of       responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)      (in hours)
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Pulmonary History Questionnaire.................             100               1           20/60              33
Symptoms Questionnaire..........................             100              20            5/60             167
Nasal and Throat Swabs..........................             100              20            5/60             167
Pulmonary Function Tests........................             100              20           20/60             667
                                                 -----------------
      Total.....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           1,034
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    Dated: November 22, 2002.
Nancy E. Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-30219 Filed 11-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P