[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 47320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18766]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket No. CDC-2013-0014]


Preventing Skin Cancer Through Reduction of UV Exposure

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice with comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the opening of 
a docket to obtain information from the public on preventing skin 
cancer through the reduction of UV exposure. The information obtained 
will be used for an anticipated Office of the Surgeon General response 
to the public health problem of skin cancer.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 4, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number CDC-
2013-0014 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Meg Watson, MPH, Epidemiologist, Epidemiology and 
Applied Research Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE., MS 
F-76, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or RIN. All relevant comments received will be posted 
without change to http://regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meg Watson, Epidemiologist, 
Epidemiology and Applied Research Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention 
and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford 
Highway NE., MS F-76, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, by telephone at (770) 
488-4226 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Scope of the problem: Skin cancer rates, 
including rates of melanoma, are increasing in the United States and 
worldwide. An estimated 3.7 million cases of basal and squamous cell 
carcinomas and about 60,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed in the U.S. 
annually, with approximately 8,500 deaths from melanoma. Melanoma, 
which causes more deaths than other types of skin cancer, is one of the 
most commonly diagnosed cancers among U.S. adolescents and young 
adults. Skin cancer also poses a significant economic burden in the 
U.S. The treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer costs an 
estimated $1.7 billion each year, while costs due to low productivity 
are estimated to be $3.8 billion.
    A majority of skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet 
(UV) radiation from the sun or from indoor tanning devices, and are 
therefore preventable. Evidence clearly links exposure to UV radiation 
and a history of sunburn (indicating both intensity of UV exposure and 
skin sensitivity to radiation) to an increased risk of skin cancer. 
More than one-third of U.S. adults aged 18 and older report 
experiencing one or more sunburns in the past 12 months, and sunburn is 
even more common among younger adults. Indoor tanning is also common 
among adults, with the highest use among non-Hispanic white women aged 
18-21 years (31.8%) and aged 22-25 years (29.6%). Among white adults 
who reported indoor tanning, 57.7% of women and 40.0% of men reported 
indoor tanning >=10 times in the past 12 months. Among U.S. high school 
students, 13.3% have indoor tanned in the past 12 months, with much 
higher rates among girls and non-Hispanic whites. Furthermore, only 
10.8% of U.S. high school students report wearing sunscreen with SPF of 
15 or higher most of the time or always when outside for more than one 
hour on a sunny day.
    Approach: HHS/CDC provides leadership for nationwide efforts to 
reduce illness and death caused by skin cancer, which is the most 
common form of cancer in the U.S. HHS/CDC also conducts surveillance of 
melanoma and skin cancer risk-related behaviors, conducts applied 
research and evaluation, and translates and disseminates evidence-based 
information on how to reduce the burden of skin cancer in the 
population. Consistent with these activities, HHS/CDC is assisting the 
Office of the Surgeon General in the Department of Health and Human 
Services with an anticipated response to the public health issue of 
skin cancer, including deadly melanoma. The intent of this activity is 
to identify opportunities and actions that can be taken by all levels 
of government, civic organizations, health care providers, educational 
institutions, worksites, industry, service providers, individuals and 
others to reduce exposure to UV radiation throughout the nation by 
raising awareness of proper sun protection practices, providing or 
allowing for use of shade structures, clothing, and sunscreens where 
appropriate, and changing social norms regarding tanning and having 
tanned skin. Expectations are that a review of the information 
collected will lead to the issuance of the Office of Surgeon General 
publication.
    We invite comments and information on environmental or systems 
strategies; interventions that reduce exposure to UV radiation; and 
national-, state-, tribal-, territorial-, community-, organizational-, 
and individual-level actions.
    Areas of focus: Use of sun protection is low, while excessive sun 
exposure, indoor tanning, and sunburn are common. HHS/CDC and the 
Office of the Surgeon General are interested in receiving information 
on the following topics:
    (1) Barriers to reducing UV exposure from the sun and from indoor 
tanning devices, and;
    (2) Evidence-based strategies to reduce UV exposure in the 
population by increasing the use of sun protection and reducing tanning 
behaviors.

    Dated: July 29, 2013.
J. Ronald Campbell,
Director, Division of Executive Secretariat, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-18766 Filed 8-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P