[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 230 (Friday, November 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67730-67731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23234]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Toxicology Program (NTP); Center for the Evaluation of 
Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR); Announcement of the Availability 
of the Bisphenol A Expert Panel Report; Request for Public Comment

AGENCY: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); 
National Institutes of Health (NIH).

ACTION: Announcement of report availability and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: CERHR announces the availability of the final bisphenol A 
expert panel report on November 26, 2007, from the CERHR Web site 
(http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) or in print from CERHR (see ADDRESSES 
below). The expert panel report is an evaluation of the reproductive 
and developmental toxicity of bisphenol A conducted by an independent, 
12-member expert panel composed of scientists from the public and 
private sectors convened by CERHR. CERHR invites the submission of 
public comments on this report (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below). 
The expert panel met twice in public session (March 5-7, 2007 and 
August 6-8, 2007) to review and revise the draft expert panel report 
and reach conclusions regarding whether exposure to bisphenol A is a 
hazard to human development or reproduction. The expert panel also 
identified data gaps and research needs.

DATES: The final bisphenol A expert panel report will be available for 
public comment on November 26, 2007. Written public comments on this 
report should be received by January 25, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the expert panel report and any other 
correspondence should be sent to Dr. Michael D. Shelby, CERHR Director, 
NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD EC-32, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, fax: 
(919) 316-4511, or e-mail: [email protected]. Courier address: 
CERHR, 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, Building 4401, Room 103, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27709.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 67731]]

Background

    Bisphenol A (CAS RN: 80-5-07) is a high production volume chemical 
used in the production of epoxy resins, polyester resins, polysulfone 
resins, polyacrylate resins, polycarbonate plastics, and flame 
retardants. Polycarbonate plastics are used in food and drink 
packaging; resins are used as lacquers to coat metal products such as 
food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. Some polymers used in 
dental sealants and tooth coatings contain bisphenol A. Exposure to the 
general population can occur through direct contact to bisphenol A or 
by exposure to food or drink that has been in contact with a material 
containing bisphenol A. CERHR selected this chemical for evaluation 
because of (1) high production volume, (2) widespread human exposure, 
(3) evidence of reproductive toxicity in laboratory animal studies, and 
(4) public concern.
    The CERHR convened an expert panel on March 5-7, 2007, and on 
August 6-8, 2007, to review and revise the draft and interim draft 
expert panel reports and reach conclusions regarding whether exposure 
to bisphenol A is a hazard to human development or reproduction. The 
expert panel also identified data gaps and research needs. CERHR 
solicited public comments on drafts of the expert panel report several 
times (FR, December 12, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 238 pp. 74534-74536; FR, 
April 2, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 62 pp. 15695-15696; FR, May 1, 2007, Vol. 
72, No. 83 pp. 23833-23834).
    Following receipt of public comments on the final bisphenol A 
expert panel report, CERHR staff will prepare the NTP-CERHR monograph. 
NTP-CERHR monographs are divided into four major sections: (1) The NTP 
Brief that provides the NTP's interpretation of the potential for the 
chemical to cause adverse reproductive and/or developmental effects in 
exposed humans, (2) a roster of expert panel members, (3) the final 
expert panel report, and (4) public comments received on that report. 
The NTP Brief is based on the expert panel report, public comments on 
that report, public and peer review comments on the draft NTP Brief, 
and any new, relevant information that becomes available after the 
expert panel meetings.

Request for Comments

    CERHR invites written public comments on the bisphenol A expert 
panel report. Written comments should be sent to Dr. Michael Shelby 
(see ADDRESSES above). Persons submitting written comments are asked to 
include their name and contact information (affiliation, mailing 
address, telephone and facsimile numbers, e-mail, and sponsoring 
organization, if any). Any comments received will be posted on the 
CERHR Web site and included in the NTP CERHR monograph on this 
chemical. All public comments will be considered by the NTP during 
preparation of the NTP Brief (see ``Background'' above).

Background Information on CERHR

    The NTP established the CERHR in June 1998 [FR, December 14, 1998 
(Vol. 63, No. 239, pp. 68782)]. CERHR is a publicly accessible resource 
for information about adverse reproductive and/or developmental health 
effects associated with exposure to environmental and/or occupational 
exposures. Expert panels conduct scientific evaluations of agents 
selected by CERHR in public forums.
    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 Web site (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) or by 
contacting Dr. Shelby (see ADDRESSES above). CERHR selects chemicals 
for evaluation based upon several factors including production volume, 
potential for human exposure from use and occurrence in the 
environment, extent of public concern, and extent of data from 
reproductive and developmental toxicity studies.
    CERHR follows a formal, multi-step process for review and 
evaluation of selected chemicals. A description of the evaluation 
process is available on the CERHR Web site under ``About CERHR'' or in 
printed copy from CERHR.

    Dated: November 15, 2007.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Acting Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
and National Toxicology Program.
 [FR Doc. E7-23234 Filed 11-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P