[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3048-3049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-890]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60 Day-09-09AL]


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 404-639-5960 
and send comments to Maryam I. Daneshvar, CDC Acting Reports Clearance 
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected].
    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 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. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    The Green Housing Study--New--National Center for Environmental 
Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Green building principles and practices have been shown to reduce 
energy consumption, but their efficacy in reducing environmental agents 
such as pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fungi, and 
indoor allergens is not clear. Furthermore, little research has been 
conducted on health impacts that might be related to green buildings, 
especially on a nationwide scale. Three main goals of this study are: 
(1) To compare levels of certain environmental chemical and biological 
agents in green vs. traditional, multi-family, low-income housing; (2) 
to ascertain differences in the health of the residents in these homes; 
and (3) to assess the economic impacts of the ``greening'' of housing-
particularly those related to health. These goals will be accomplished 
in an ongoing building renovation program, ``Mark-to-Market'' (M2M), 
sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 
Briefly, the M2M program is a nationwide initiative that encourages 
owners and purchasers of affordable, multi-family properties to 
rehabilitate and operate their properties using sustainable green 
building principles. In partnership with HUD, the CDC will leverage 
this opportunity to collect survey and biomarker data from residents 
and to collect environmental measurements in their homes in order to 
evaluate associations between green housing and health.
    This study directly supports the Healthy Homes' health protection 
goal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This 
investigation is also consistent with CDC's Health Protection Research 
Agenda, which calls for research to identify the major environmental 
causes of disease and disability and related risk factors.
    Indoor allergens such as those from cockroaches, dust mites, mice, 
and fungi have been associated with childhood asthma. Also, VOCs and 
pesticides have been associated with adverse birth outcomes (e.g., low 
birth weight and prematurity) and delayed neurodevelopment. Given that 
green principles such as improvement of ventilation systems and 
elimination of spray pesticides can directly affect the concentrations 
of chemical and biological agents in air, residents in green housing 
should theoretically have better health outcomes (e.g., asthma, birth 
outcomes, and infant neurodevelopment, this in turn will lead to lower 
healthcare utilization and overall societal costs.
    Participants will include pregnant women, mothers and children 
living in

[[Page 3049]]

HUD-subsidized housing that has either been rehabilitated in a green 
(e.g., case) or a traditional manner (e.g., control) from study sites 
across the United States. Pregnant women and children with asthma (ages 
7-12 years) will donate blood samples (for assessment of allergy) and 
urine samples (for assessment of pesticide and VOC exposures). The 
children with asthma (ages 7-12 years) will be also tested for lung 
function and lung inflammatory markers. Questionnaires regarding home 
characteristics and respiratory symptoms will be administered at 3-
month intervals over a 2-year period. Of the pregnant women enrolled, 
neurodevelopment of their infant will be tested at ages 1 week and 6 
months. Environmental sampling of the air and dust in the participants' 
homes will be conducted over a 2 year period (once in the home before 
rehabilitation, and then at four time points after rehabilitation has 
been completed: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months). 
Environmental sampling includes measurements of air exchange rate, 
pesticides, VOCs, indoor allergens, fungi, temperature, humidity, and 
particulate matter.
    There is no cost to respondents other than their time.

                                                            Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                        Number of      Average burden
                Respondents                                 Forms                     Number of       responses per     per response      Total burden
                                                                                     respondents       respondent        (in hours)        (in hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mothers of enrolled children...............  Screening questionnaire............               800                 1              5/60               067
                                             Baseline Questionnaire (Home                      688                 1             15/60               172
                                              Characteristics).
                                             Baseline Questionnaire (for Mother)               688                 1             15/60               172
                                             Baseline Questionnaire (for                       688                 1             15/60               172
                                              Children 0-6 years).
                                             Baseline Questionnaire (for                       688                 1             15/60               172
                                              Children 7-12 with asthma).
                                             3, 9, 15, and 18-month Phone                      688                 4              5/60               229
                                              contact.
                                             6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up                     688                 3             10/60               344
                                              Questionnaire (for environment).
                                             6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up                     688                 3             10/60               344
                                              Questionnaire (for women).
                                             6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up                     688                 3             10/60               344
                                              Questionnaire (for children 0-6).
                                             6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up                     688                 3             10/60               344
                                              Questionnaire (for asthmatic child
                                              7-12).
Pregnant women.............................  Screening questionnaire............               800                 1              5/60                67
                                             Baseline Questionnaire (Home                      688                 1             15/60               172
                                              Characteristics).
                                             Baseline Questionnaire (for                       688                 1             15/60               172
                                              Pregnant woman).
                                             3, 9, 15, and 18-month Phone                      688                 4              5/60               229
                                              contact.
                                             6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up                     688                 3             10/60               344
                                              Questionnaire (for environment).
                                             6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up                     688                 3             10/60               344
                                              Questionnaire (for women).
                                             Post-delivery questionnaire........               688                 1              5/60                57
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    Total.............................................................................................................................              3745
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    Dated: January 8, 2009.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E9-890 Filed 1-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P