[Federal Register: August 28, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 167)]
[Notices]
[Page 51786-51787]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28au03-53]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Information Relevant to Toluene Exposure
AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS).
[[Page 51787]]
ACTION: Notice of request for comments and information relevant to
occupational exposure to toluene.
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SUMMARY: NIOSH is reviewing the recommendations in its document
``Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to
Toluene'' [NIOSH 1973] (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/73-11023.html). A
review of recent literature indicates that the NIOSH recommended
exposure limit (REL) of 100 ppm as an 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA)
does not sufficiently protect workers from the adverse effects of
exposure to toluene. NIOSH is requesting (1) comments and information
relevant to the evaluation of the health risks associated with
occupational exposure to toluene, (2) reports or other data that
demonstrate adverse health effects in workers exposed to toluene at or
below the NIOSH REL, and (3) information pertinent to establishing a
more protective REL for toluene.
Comments concerning this notice must be received within 60 days
after date of publication.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be transmitted either electronically to
niocindocket@cdc.gov, by facsimile to 513/533-8230, or by regular mail
or hand delivery to NIOSH Docket Office, M/S C-34, Robert A. Taft
Laboratories, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226. E-mail
attachments should be formatted as WordPerfect 7/8/9 or Microsoft Word.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henryka Nagy, M/S C-32, Robert A. Taft
Laboratories, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, 513/533-
8369.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the document ``Criteria for a Recommended
Standard: Occupational Exposure to Toluene'' [NIOSH 1973] (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/73-11023.html
), NIOSH recommended that exposure to
toluene be limited to 100 ppm as an 8-hr TWA. This exposure limit was
expected to prevent acute and chronic effects on the central and
peripheral nervous system from exposures to toluene. NIOSH has
conducted a literature review of the health effects data on toluene
exposure and finds evidence that adverse effects on the central and
peripheral nervous systems and reproductive system, as well as
irritation of the eye and respiratory tract may occur in workers
exposed to concentrations at and below the current NIOSH REL of 100 ppm
[Andersen et al. 1983; Larsen and Leira 1988; [Oslash]rb[aelig]k and
Nise 1989; Foo et al. 1990; Ng et al. 1992; ATSDR 2000; NEG 2000].
NIOSH seeks to obtain materials, including published and
unpublished reports and research findings, to evaluate the possible
health risks of occupational exposure to toluene at concentrations
below 100 ppm. Examples of requested information include, but are not
to be limited to, the following:
1. Identification of industries or occupations in which exposures
to toluene may occur.
2. Trends in production, use, and import of toluene over the past
10 years.
3. Description of work tasks and scenarios with a potential for
exposure to toluene.
4. Current occupational exposure concentrations in various types of
industries and jobs and, if available, data to document these
concentrations.
5. Case reports or other health data that demonstrate adverse
health effects in workers exposed to toluene, or animal data (published
or peer-reviewed data are preferred).
6. Description of work practices and engineering controls used to
reduce or prevent workplace exposure.
7. Educational materials for worker safety or training on the safe
handling of toluene.
8. Data pertaining to the technical feasibility of establishing a
more protective REL for toluene.
NIOSH will use this information to determine the need for
developing new recommendations for reducing occupational exposure to
toluene.
All information received in response to this notice will be
available for public examination and copying at the NIOSH Docket
Office, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
References
Andersen I, Lundqvist GR, Molhave L, Pedersen OF, Proctor DF,
V[aelig]th M, Wyon DP [1983]. Human response to controlled levels of
toluene in six-hour exposures. Scand J Work Environ Health 9:405-418.
ATSDR [2000]. Toxicological profile for toluene (update). Atlanta, GA:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Foo SC, Jeyaratnam J, Koh D [1990]. Chronic neurobehavioural effects of
toluene. Br J Ind Med 47:480-484.
Larsen F, Leira HL [1988]. Organic brain syndrome and long-term
exposure to toluene: a clinical, psychiatric study of vocationally
active printing workers. J Occup Med 30(11):875-878.
NEG [2000]. Toluene. Stockholm, Sweden: The Nordic Expert Group for
Criteria Documentation of Health Risks from Chemicals.
Ng TP, Swee CF, Yoong T [1992]. Risk of spontaneous abortion in workers
exposed to toluene. Br J Ind Med 49:804-808.
NIOSH [1973]. Criteria for a recommended standard occupational exposure
to toluene. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication
No. 73-11023.
[Oslash]rb[aelig]k P, Nise G [1989]. Neurasthenic complaints and
psychometric function of toluene-exposed rotogravure printers. Am J Ind
Med 16:67-77.
The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been
delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining
to announcements of meetings and other committee management
activities, for both CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry.
Dated: July 23, 2003.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-22102 Filed 8-26-03; 10:03 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P