[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63981-63982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25145]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[Docket ATSDR-2012-0002 ATSDR-274]


Availability of Interaction Profile for Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-
Dioxins, Polybrominated Diphenol Ethers, and Phthalates

AGENCY: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 
within the Department of Health and Human Services announces the 
availability of the interaction profile for Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-
Dioxins, Polybrominated Diphenol Ethers, and Phthalates. This 
interaction profile evaluates a mixture of chemicals often found in 
human blood, adipose tissue, and breast milk. The purpose of this 
interaction profile is to investigate the possible joint actions of 
these chemicals on endocrine, developmental, and neurobehavioral 
endpoints in humans. This interaction profile has undergone external 
peer-review and review by ATSDR's Interagency Workgroup on Mixtures.

[[Page 63982]]


DATES: The interaction profile was made available to the public on 
September 2, 2013. The comment period will end on December 2, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. ATSDR-
2012-0002, by any of the following methods:
     Internet: Access the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, 
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1600 Clifton Road, 
NE., Mailstop F-57, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this notice. All relevant comments will be posted 
without change.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Hana Pohl, Division of Toxicology 
and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry, Mailstop F-57, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 
30333, telephone (888) 422-8737.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ATSDR develops interaction profiles for 
hazardous substances found at the National Priority List (NPL) sites 
under Section 104(i)(3) and (5) of the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). This law 
requires that ATSDR assess whether or not adequate information on 
health effects is available for priority hazardous substances. Where 
such information is not available or under development, ATSDR shall, in 
cooperation with the National Toxicology Program, initiate a research 
program to determine these health effects. The Act further directs 
that, where feasible, ATSDR shall develop methods to determine the 
health effects of these priority hazardous substances in combination 
with other substances commonly found with them.
    To carry out these legislative mandates, ATSDR has developed a 
chemical mixtures program and guidance manual that outlines the latest 
methods for mixtures health assessment. In addition, a series of 
documents called ``interaction profiles'' is developed for certain 
priority mixtures that are of special concern to ATSDR. To recommend 
approaches for the exposure-based assessment of the potential hazard to 
public health, an interaction profile evaluates data on the toxicology 
of the whole priority mixture, if available, and on the joint toxic 
action of the chemicals in the mixture.
    The entire interaction profile development process is as follows:
     ATSDR selects substances/chemicals for development of 
interaction profiles through inter/intra agency communications 
collaboration and literature reviews.
     After the selection, a letter is sent to individuals and 
agencies on ATSDR's mailing list providing notice of ATSDR's intent to 
create an interaction profile.
     A notice is posted in the Federal Register to inform the 
public of ATSDR's intent to develop a particular interaction profile.
     The draft interaction profile undergoes both internal and 
external peer review.
     A Federal Register notice announces the release of the 
official draft for public comment.
     ATSDR posts a link to the draft interaction profile on its 
Web site, giving the public an opportunity to provide comments.
     ATSDR reviews all public comments and revises the draft, 
as appropriate, before issuing the final version.

    Dated: October 18, 2013.
Sascha Chaney,
Acting Director, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, National 
Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry.
[FR Doc. 2013-25145 Filed 10-24-13; 8:45 am]
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