[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63848-63849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25472]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Report on Carcinogens Evaluation of Pentachlorophenol; Request 
for Nominations of Scientific Experts

SUMMARY: The National Toxicology Program (NTP), Division of the 
National Toxicology Program (DNTP), National Institute of Environmental 
Health Sciences (NIEHS), is initiating development of the Report on 
Carcinogens (RoC) monograph on pentachlorophenol. To inform development 
of that monograph, the Office of the RoC (ORoC) will hold a web-based 
meeting to obtain information related to evaluating human epidemiologic 
studies on exposure to pentachlorophenol and cancer risk and invites 
the nomination of speakers. Nominees should have expertise in cancer 
epidemiology and knowledge of studies related to exposure to 
pentachlorophenol. Self-nomination is permitted.

DATES: The deadline for nominations is December 3, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted to Dr. Ruth Lunn, Director, 
ORoC, DNTP, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD K2-14, Research Triangle Park, NC 
27709; telephone (919) 316-4637; FAX: (301) 480-2970; 
[email protected]. Courier address: NIEHS, Room 2138, 530 Davis Drive, 
Morrisville, NC 27560.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ruth Lunn, Director, ORoC, DNTP, 
NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD K2-14, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; 
telephone (919) 316-4637; FAX: (301) 480-2970; [email protected]. 
Courier address: NIEHS, Room 2138, 530 Davis Drive, Morrisville, NC 
27560.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: Pentachlorophenol (including its 
sodium salts) is a chlorinated aromatic compound that is used primarily 
as a wood preservative in the United States. It was selected for 
evaluation for the RoC based on widespread past use and current 
exposure in the United States and an adequate database of cancer 
studies.
    The final concept document for pentachlorophenol, which outlines 
the rationale for its selection for RoC evaluation and the proposed 
approach for development of the cancer evaluation component of the RoC 
monograph on pentachlorophenol, is available on the RoC Web site ( 
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/37897). The NTP Board of Scientific 
Counselors provided comments on the draft concept at its meeting on 
June 21, 2012 (minutes available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/9741).
    Important to the evaluation of the potential carcinogenicity of 
pentachlorophenol is the assessment of evidence from human cancer 
studies. From an initial search of the peer-reviewed literature, the 
available human epidemiologic studies include: (1) Several case-control 
studies (primarily of hematopoietic cancer) reporting risk estimates 
for job titles associated with pentachlorophenol exposure or exposure 
to chlorophenols with limited information on exposure specific for 
pentachlorophenol, (2) case-control studies reporting risk estimates 
specific for pentachlorophenol, and (3) cohort studies of 
pentachlorophenol production workers or users. A key issue in 
evaluating the evidence in humans is the potential for confounding from 
co-exposures, especially contaminants of pentachlorophenol formed 
during its production. Major cancers of interest are multiple myeloma, 
lymphoma, and soft-tissue sarcoma.
    Meeting Information: ORoC will hold a web-based meeting to obtain 
information related to evaluating human epidemiologic studies on 
exposure to pentachlorophenol and cancer risk, especially for lymphoma 
and multiple myeloma. In planning for this event, ORoC is inviting the 
nomination of speakers who would make presentations that focus on the 
methods used in human epidemiologic studies of pentachlorophenol to 
evaluate potential confounding from occupational co-exposures, other 
types of information that may be important in evaluating potential 
confounding, and how exposure to confounders may affect each study's 
findings. Once plans for the web-based meeting are finalized, 
additional information including agenda, speakers, logistics, and 
registration, will be announced in a subsequent Federal Register 
notice.
    Request for Nominations of Speakers: ORoC invites the nomination of 
speakers for the web-based meeting with expertise in epidemiology and 
knowledge of cancer studies on exposure to pentachlorophenol. Self-
nomination is permitted. Each nomination should include (1) Contact 
information for the nominee [name,

[[Page 63849]]

affiliation (if any), address, telephone, fax, and email], (2) a short 
description of the individual's expertise relative to the review of 
human epidemiologic studies of exposure to pentachlorophenol and cancer 
risk, (3) curriculum vitae, and (4) an abstract describing what would 
be covered in the talk to address the presentations' focus as noted 
above in ``Meeting Information.'' Persons submitting nominations should 
provide their name, contact information, affiliation, and sponsoring 
organization (if any). Nominations should be submitted to Dr. Lunn (see 
ADDRESSES); their receipt will be acknowledged by email. The deadline 
for nominations is December 3, 2012. Persons selected as speakers will 
be notified by email at least 30 days prior to the meeting.
    Background Information on the RoC: The RoC is a congressionally 
mandated document that identifies and discusses substances that may 
pose a hazard to human health by virtue of their carcinogenicity. 
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 following a formal, multi-
step process for review and evaluation of selected substances (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/rocprocess). Information about the RoC is 
available on the RoC Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc) or by 
contacting Dr. Lunn (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: October 11, 2012.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-25472 Filed 10-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P