[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 79 (Friday, April 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22047-22048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9212]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-04-45]


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

[[Page 22048]]

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 Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports 
Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E11, Atlanta, GA 30333. 
Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Environmental Monitoring of Persistent Organic Pollutants and 
Metals: A Multi-Center Study to Determine Population Exposure to 
Environmental Toxins in North America--New--National Center for 
Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).
    Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a group of man-made 
chemicals that can stay in the environment for long periods of time and 
can be transported long distances in the environment. Heavy metals such 
as lead and mercury are naturally found substances that can also be 
released into the environment as a result of human activities (e.g., 
smelting). Exposure to these contaminants, even at low levels, may lead 
to adverse health effects, particularly in high-risk groups such as the 
unborn child. However, before we attempt to determine if these 
contaminants are associated with health effects, we have to find out if 
these contaminants are present in our blood and in what amounts. The 
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP), established in 1991 
under the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS), has the 
responsibility to monitor levels and assess effects of selected 
pollutants (i.e., POPs and heavy metals) in all Arctic locations. To 
our knowledge, a similar integrated program for monitoring exposure to 
POPs and metals does not exist in North America.
    The proposed program will monitor levels of POPs and heavy metals 
in first-time pregnant women. The program will help determine 
geographical and temporal trends of these exposures in selected cities 
within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. CDC will be responsible 
for the investigation in the United States; Canada and Mexico will be 
responsible for the investigation in their countries. The findings will 
inform first-time pregnant women in the vicinity of the study sites of 
their exposure to selected POPs and heavy metals. This program will 
also provide unique information regarding accumulation of POPs and 
heavy metals in relation to dietary patterns, and will allow assessment 
of trends in diet, which is critical public health information. 
Biomonitoring for POPs and metals will enhance awareness among this 
vulnerable population of the risks posed by these chemicals in various 
regions of North America and help identify ways to reduce exposure. The 
program will enroll 25 pregnant women (20-25 years of age) per site 
(United States: 5 sites; Canada: 5 sites; Mexico: 10 sites). Data from 
previous projects in the United States and Canada will be used for 
comparing results of the current project. As there has been little 
national or regional monitoring in Mexico, more sites will be selected 
in Mexico than in the United States and Canada.
    In collaboration with obstetricians at the local sites, study 
participants will be recruited during their prenatal clinic visit, 
after their 36th week of pregnancy but prior to delivery. One person 
from the study team will approach the mother during a routine prenatal 
visit, explain the project, and obtain signed consent if the mother is 
willing to participate. The study will involve administering an 
exposure questionnaire and collection of blood and urine samples during 
the 3rd trimester of the pregnancy. This is only a one-time study; 
blood collection and administration of the questionnaire will only be 
done once. All samples will be analyzed at a single laboratory in each 
country, and the results will be distributed to the study participants 
and their physicians prior to publication. There are no costs to 
respondents.

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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Respondents                       Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs.)       (in hrs.)
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U.S. Primiparous Pregnant Women.................             125               1           30/60              63
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............              63
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    Dated: April 13, 2004.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-9212 Filed 4-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P