[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51483-51484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20297]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Toxicology Program (NTP) Center for the Evaluation of 
Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) Announces the Availability of the 
NTP-CERHR Monograph on Bisphenol A

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

ACTION: Availability of the NTP-CERHR Monograph on Bisphenol A.

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SUMMARY: In December 2005, the CERHR announced its intention to conduct 
an evaluation of the potential for bisphenol A to cause adverse effects 
on reproduction and development in humans (Federal Register: December 
21, 2005: Vol. 70, No. 244, page 75827). The final results of this 
evaluation are now available in the NTP-CERHR Monograph on Bisphenol A 
that includes the (1) NTP Brief on Bisphenol A and (2) CERHR Expert 
Panel Report on the Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of 
Bisphenol A. The NTP Brief provides the public, as well as government 
health, regulatory, and research agencies, with the NTP's conclusions 
regarding the potential for bisphenol A to adversely affect human 
reproductive health or children's development. The NTP Brief is based 
on information about bisphenol A provided in the expert panel report, 
public comments, comments from peer reviewers of the draft NTP Brief, 
and additional scientific information available since the expert panel 
meeting.

DATES: The NTP-CERHR Monograph on Bisphenol A will be available on 
September 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The NTP-CERHR Monograph on the Potential Human Reproductive 
and Developmental Effects of Bisphenol A is now available 
electronically on the CERHR Web site (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov see 
``Now Available'') or on CD or in printed text from the CERHR by 
contacting Dr. Michael D. Shelby, CERHR Director, NIEHS, P.O. Box 
12233, MC EC-32, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (mail), 919-316-4511 
(fax), or [email protected] (e-mail). Courier address: CERHR, 79 
T.W. Alexander Drive, Building 4401, Room 103, Research Triangle Park, 
NC 27709. Additional information related to the evaluation of bisphenol 
A, including the peer review report for the NTP Brief and all public 
comments received during the course of the evaluation, are available on 
the CERHR Web site (see Bisphenol

[[Page 51484]]

A under ``CERHR Reports & Monographs'' or directly at http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/bisphenol-eval.html.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information on Bisphenol A

    Bisphenol A (CAS RN: 80-05-7) is a high production volume chemical 
used primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy 
resins. Polycarbonate plastics are used in some food and drink 
containers; the resins are used as lacquers to coat metal products such 
as food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. To a lesser extent 
bisphenol A is used in the production of polyester resins, polysulfone 
resins, polyacrylate resins, and flame retardants. In addition, 
bisphenol A is used in the processing of polyvinyl chloride plastic. 
Some polymers used in dental sealants and composites may contribute to 
bisphenol A exposures. The primary source of exposure to bisphenol A 
for most people is assumed to occur through the diet. The highest 
estimated daily intakes of bisphenol A in the general population occur 
in infants and children. CERHR selected bisphenol A for evaluation 
because of (1) widespread human exposure, (2) public concern for 
possible health effects, (3) high production volume, and (4) evidence 
of reproductive and developmental toxicity in laboratory animal 
studies.

Background Information on the CERHR

    The NTP established CERHR in 1998 (Federal Register: December 14, 
1998: Vol. 63, No. 239, page 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. CERHR follows a formal process for the 
evaluation of selected chemicals that includes opportunities for public 
input.
    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. Michael Shelby, CERHR Director (see ADDRESSES). 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. Expert panels conduct 
scientific evaluations of agents selected by CERHR in public forums. 
Following these evaluations, CERHR prepares the NTP-CERHR monograph on 
the agent evaluated. The monograph is transmitted to appropriate 
federal and state agencies and made available to the public.

    Dated: August 20, 2008.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Acting Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
and National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. E8-20297 Filed 9-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P