[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 174 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52059-52060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20777]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Toxicology Program (NTP); Report on Carcinogens (RoC); 
Request for Public Comments on the RoC Expert Panel's Recommendation on 
Listing Status for Styrene in the 12th RoC and the Scientific 
Justification for the Recommendation

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

ACTION: Request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The RoC Office invites public comment on the recommendation 
from an expert panel on the listing status for styrene in the 12th RoC 
and the scientific justification for the recommendation. The 
recommendation and scientific justification for styrene is available 
electronically in Part B of the Expert Panel Report (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/29682, see Expert Panel Report Part B) or in 
printed text from the RoC Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
below). The RoC Office convened an eleven-member expert panel of 
scientists from the public and private sectors on July 21-22, 2008. The 
panel was asked (1) to apply the RoC listing criteria to the relevant 
scientific evidence and make a recommendation regarding listing status 
(i.e., known to be a human carcinogen, reasonably anticipated to be a 
human carcinogen, or not to list) for styrene in the 12th RoC and (2) 
to provide the scientific justification for the recommendation.

DATES: The Expert Panel Report (Part B) for styrene will be available 
for public comment by September 3, 2008. Written comments should be 
submitted by October 23, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Dr. Ruth Lunn, Director, RoC 
Office [NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD EC-14, Research Triangle Park, NC 
27709, Fax: 919-541-0144, or [email protected]. Courier address: 
Report on Carcinogens, 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, Building 4401, Room 
3118, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ruth Lunn, RoC Office, 919-316-
4637 [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Styrene is a flammable liquid used worldwide in the manufacture of 
polystyrene, which is used extensively in the manufacture of plastic 
packaging, thermal insulation in building construction and 
refrigeration equipment, and disposable cups and containers. Styrene 
also is used in other polymers and resins that are used to manufacture 
boats, shower stalls, tires, automotive parts, and many other products. 
The general population is exposed to styrene from inhalation of indoor 
air; and outdoor air, tobacco smoke, and ingestion of food. 
Occupational exposure occurs mainly in the reinforced plastics, 
styrene-butadiene rubber, and styrene monomer and polymer industries.
    As part of the RoC review process (available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/15208), the NTP announced the availability of the 
draft background document for styrene (Federal Register: May 20, 2008: 
Vol. 73, No. 98, pages 29139-29140), invited public comments

[[Page 52060]]

on the draft background document, and announced the styrene expert 
panel meeting. The RoC Office convened an eleven-member expert panel of 
scientists from the public and private sectors to evaluate styrene. The 
expert panel met on July 21-22, 2008, in a public forum at the Radisson 
Governors Inn, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The panel was 
charged to peer review the draft background document for styrene and 
then to make a recommendation on its listing status in the 12th RoC and 
to provide a scientific justification for that recommendation. Details 
about the meeting, including public comments received and the expert 
panel reports, are available on the RoC Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/29682). The expert panel report for styrene 
contains two parts: Part A contains the peer-review comments on the 
draft background document and Part B is the recommendation on listing 
status and its scientific justification. The expert panel recommended 
that (1) styrene be listed in the 12th RoC as reasonably anticipated to 
be a human carcinogen. The panel's recommendation on listing status and 
its scientific justification are now being released for public comment.

Request for Comments

    The RoC Office invites written public comments on the expert 
panel's recommendation on listing status for styrene and the scientific 
justification for the recommendation. All comments received will be 
posted on the RoC Web site. 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) and send them to Dr. Lunn (see 
ADDRESSES above). The deadline for submission of written comments is 
October 23, 2008.

Next Steps

    The RoC Office is in the process of finalizing the background 
document for styrene based upon the expert panel's peer review comments 
and the public comments received (73 FR 29139). Persons can register 
free-of-charge with the NTP listserve (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/231) 
to receive notification when the final background document is posted on 
the RoC Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/10091). As part of the 
RoC review process, two government groups will also conduct reviews of 
styrene; these meetings are not open to the public. Upon completion of 
these reviews, the NTP will (1) draft a substance profile for styrene, 
which contains its listing recommendation for the 12th RoC and the 
scientific information supporting that recommendation; (2) solicit 
public comment on the draft substance profile; and (3) convene a 
meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors to peer review the draft 
substance profile.

Background Information on the RoC

    The RoC is a Congressionally mandated document that identifies and 
discusses agents, substances, mixtures, or exposure circumstances 
(collectively referred to as ``substances'') that may pose a hazard to 
human health by virtue of their carcinogenicity. The RoC follows a 
formal, multi-step process for review and evaluation of selected 
chemicals. Substances are listed in the report as either known or 
reasonably anticipated human carcinogens. The NTP prepares the RoC on 
behalf of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Information about 
the RoC and the review process is available on its Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc) or by contacting Dr. Lunn (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT above).

    Dated: August 29, 2008.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Acting Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
and National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. E8-20777 Filed 9-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P