[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12928-12929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6444]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service


The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Center for the Evaluation 
of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) Announces the Availability of 
the NTP-CERHR Monograph on Di-n-Butyl Phthalate

Summary

    The CERHR announces the availability of the NTP-CERHR Monograph on 
the Potential Human Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Di-n-
Butyl Phthalate (DBP). The monograph is posted electronically on the 
CERHR Web site: http://cerhr/niehs/nih/gov and a limited number of 
copies in printed text are available from the CERHR by contacting Dr. 
Michael Shelby, Director CERHR [NIEHS, 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, 
Building 4401, Room 103, P.O. Box 12233, MD EC-32, Research Triangle 
Park, NC 27709, telephone: (919) 541-3455; facsimile: (919) 316-4511; 
[email protected]].

NTP-CERHR Monographs

    The monograph on DBP is the first in the NTP-CERHR monograph 
series. This monograph includes three parts: (1) The NTP brief, which 
presents the NTP's interpretation of the available data and its 
conclusions on the potential for DBP to cause adverse developmental and 
reproductive effects in humans, (2) the expert panel report, and (3) 
all public comments on the expert panel report. The NTP utilized 
information provided in the expert panel report, the public comments, 
as well as information from studies published since the expert panel 
meeting in reaching its conclusions on DBP.
    The CERHR follows a formal process for the evaluation of selected 
chemicals that includes opportunities for public input. The NTP-CERHR 
monographs are the final products of those evaluations. Monographs on 
six additional phthalates [butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-
ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), di-isononyl 
phthalate (DINP),

[[Page 12929]]

di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP)] are in 
production and the NTP will make them available as soon as they are 
completed.
    All future notifications about the availability of phthalate 
monographs will be provided through NTP list-server announcements and 
through the CERHR Web site: http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov. Anyone can 
subscribe to the NTP list-server in several ways: (1) By registering 
online through the NTP Web site at http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov, 
select Announcements, (2) by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with the word subscribe as the body of the 
message, or (3) by contacting the NTP Liaison and Scientific Review 
Office (919-541-0530 or [email protected]). Individuals or 
groups who have already subscribed to the NTP list-server do not need 
to subscribe again.

Background Information about CERHR

    The NTP established the NTP CERHR in June 1998 [Federal Register, 
December 14, 1998: Volume 63, Number 239, page 68782)]. The CERHR is a 
publicly accessible resource for information about adverse reproductive 
and/or developmental health effects associated with exposure to 
environmental and/or occupational agents. The CERHR carries out 
assessments of these agents following a formal, multi-step, open 
process that includes rigorous evaluations by independent scientific 
panels in public forums and opportunities for public input. This 
process was published in the Federal Register (July 16, 2001: Volume 
66, Number 136, pages 37047-37048) and is available on the CERHR Web 
site under About CERHR or in printed text from the CERHR.
    The CERHR invites the nomination of agents for review or scientists 
for its expert registry. Information about CERHR and the nomination 
process can be obtained from its homepage (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) 
or by contacting Dr. Shelby (contact information provided above). The 
CERHR selects chemicals for evaluation based upon several factors, 
including production volume, extent of human exposure, public concern, 
and published evidence of reproductive or developmental toxicity.

    Dated: March 7, 2003.
Kenneth Olden,
Director, NTP.
[FR Doc. 03-6444 Filed 3-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P