[Federal Register: February 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 34)]
[Notices]               
[Page 7957-7958]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20fe04-58]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-26-04]

 
Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call 
the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 498-1210. Send written 
comments to CDC, Desk Officer, Human Resources and Housing Branch, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax 
to (202) 395-6974. Written comments should be received within 30 days 
of this notice.
    Proposed Project: Epidemiologic Study Of Gastrointestinal Health 
Effects And Exposure To Disinfection Byproducts Associated With 
Consumption Of Conventionally Treated Groundwater--New--National Center 
for Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).

[[Page 7958]]

    The primary goal of drinking water treatment is the removal of 
microorganisms responsible for waterborne disease. The addition of 
disinfectants such as chlorine is one of the most important steps in 
pathogen inactivation and may in some cases (such as in many 
groundwater systems) be the only treatment employed. However, chlorine 
also reacts with organic compounds in the water to produce halogenated 
organic byproducts (disinfection by-products [DBPs]). One of the most 
commonly measured groups of DBPs is the trihalomethanes (THMs). Human 
exposure to THMs has been associated with bladder and colorectal 
cancer. Public water providers must constantly balance the acute risks 
of gastrointestinal (GI) illness associated with exposure to microbial 
pathogens against the long-term risks associated with exposure to DBPs.
    Each study household will be visited at the beginning and end of 
the study to enroll the study participants and to collect biological 
specimens (blood and serum samples will be collected from a subset (50 
percent) of adult household members at the beginning and end of the 
study) and water samples. A questionnaire will be administered in the 
home at the beginning of the study to collect data about water use 
habits and possible exposures to microbial pathogens and THMs. All 
household members will be asked to provide a saliva specimen each month 
for the duration of the one-year study. Stool specimens will be 
collected during episodes of GI symptoms.
    The specific aims of the study are to: (1) Determine the risk for 
GI illness associated with source water quality and treatment efficacy 
by comparing GI illness rates in people drinking highly treated bottled 
water with GI illness rates in people drinking bottled plant water; (2) 
determine the risk for GI illness associated with the distribution 
system by comparing GI illness rates in people drinking bottled plant 
water with GI illness rates in people drinking tap water; (3) determine 
water concentrations and associated blood concentrations of THMs in the 
study population; and (4) validate and refine existing models of THM 
exposure using the THM data collected at the participating households 
and hydraulic and water quality data collected in the distribution 
system at the time of household recruitment. The estimated annualized 
burden is 12,934 hours.

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                                                                                  Number of      Average burden/
                        Respondents                             Number of        responses/      respondent (in
                                                               respondents       respondents          hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone contact.........................................            12,000                 1             10/60
Household enrollment interview............................             1,000                 1             10/60
Individual enrollment interview...........................             4,000                 1             15/60
Water exposure interview..................................               900                 2             15/60
Biweekly health diary.....................................             4,000                26              2/60
Biweekly telephone interview..............................               900                26             15/60
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    Dated: February 12, 2004.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-3685 Filed 2-19-04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163-18-P