[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 191 (Thursday, October 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61950-61951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21735]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-20-20IT]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled Understanding Long-term Respiratory Morbidity 
in Former Styrene-Exposed Workers: Medical Survey to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously 
published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations'' notice on February 28, 2020 to obtain comments from 
the public and affected agencies. CDC received one public comment 
related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an 
additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses; and
    (e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Direct 
written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in 
this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 
395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice 
publication.

Proposed Project

    Understanding Long-term Respiratory Morbidity in Former Styrene-
Exposed Workers: Medical Survey--New--National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Styrene is used in the production of automobile parts, boats, 
computer housings, food containers, wind energy components, and many 
other products. An estimated 90,000 U.S. workers are potentially 
exposed to styrene at more than 5,000 U.S. manufacturing plants. 
Occupational exposure to styrene has been associated with deleterious 
health effects, including changes in color vision, mucous membrane 
irritation, hearing loss, and neurocognitive impairment. Workplace 
exposure to

[[Page 61951]]

styrene has also been associated with cases of non-malignant 
respiratory disease (NMRD), including COPD and obliterative 
bronchiolitis. However, little is understood about the long-term 
respiratory effects on styrene-exposed workers.
    The goal of this project is to understand the prevalence of long-
term respiratory morbidity in styrene-exposed workers. The objectives 
of the proposed study are: (1) To characterize work exposures by 
acquiring job histories and comparing with historical exposure levels 
obtained from a past industrial hygiene survey, (2) to examine 
prevalence of respiratory morbidity by duration and level of styrene 
exposure and other characteristics, (3) to apply research biomarkers of 
lung injury to a styrene-exposed workforce, and (4) to describe the 
prevalence of color vision impairment with the presence of respiratory 
morbidity. Our hypothesis is that workers previously exposed to high 
concentrations of styrene (>=5 ppm), even those with short tenure (<1 
year), will have a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung 
function abnormalities compared with workers exposed to low 
concentration of styrene (<5ppm).
    We will conduct face-to-face interviews with members of a cohort of 
workers from two reinforced plastic boatbuilding plants that closed in 
1989 and 1993. The purpose of the interviews is to collect demographic 
information, detailed job history during and after the worker's tenure 
at the boatbuilding plant, upper and lower respiratory symptoms, 
physician diagnoses of respiratory diseases, cigarette smoking history, 
and medication use. A NIOSH employee will conduct the interviews. We 
will also conduct several lung function tests including: Exhaled nitric 
oxide, impulse oscillometry, multiple-breath washout, spirometry, and 
bronchodilator reversibility testing.
    The purpose of the lung function testing is to identify small and 
large airway abnormalities that are consistent with NMRD. NIOSH 
technicians will perform the lung function testing. We will collect 
blood to analyze for biomarkers associated with lung injury caused by 
obliterative bronchiolitis. A NIOSH phlebotomist will collect the blood 
samples. Finally, we will assess cohort members for color vision 
abnormalities using the Lanthony D-15 Color Test. Color vision 
assessment will be completed by a NIOSH technician.
    The only cost to boatbuilder cohort members is local travel to the 
medical survey site and their time. The total estimated burden hours 
are 712.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per
          Type of respondents                   Form name           respondents    responses per   response  (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boatbuilder Cohort Members............  Questionnaire and                    676               1           15/60
                                         medical survey consent
                                         form.
Boatbuilder Cohort Members............  Questionnaire...........             676               1           45/60
Boatbuilder Cohort Members............  Exhaled Nitric Oxide--no             676               1            5/60
                                         form.
Boatbuilder Cohort Members............  Impulse Oscillometry--no             676               1           10/60
                                         form.
Boatbuilder Cohort Members............  Spirometry--no form.....             676               1           10/60
Boatbuilder Cohort Members............  Bronchodilator Test--no               50               1           20/60
                                         form.
Boatbuilder Cohort Members............  Multiple-Breath Washout--            676               1           30/60
                                         no form.
Boatbuilder Cohort Members............  Color vision test--no                676               1            5/60
                                         form.
Boatbuilder Cohort Members............  Blood test--no form.....             676               1            5/60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020-21735 Filed 9-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P