[Federal Register: January 16, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 11)]
[Notices]
[Page 3048-3049]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ja09-92]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60 Day-09-09AL]
Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations
In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects.
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-5960
and send comments to Maryam I. Daneshvar, CDC Acting Reports Clearance
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail
to omb@cdc.gov.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology. Written comments should be received
within 60 days of this notice.
Proposed Project
The Green Housing Study--New--National Center for Environmental
Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
Green building principles and practices have been shown to reduce
energy consumption, but their efficacy in reducing environmental agents
such as pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fungi, and
indoor allergens is not clear. Furthermore, little research has been
conducted on health impacts that might be related to green buildings,
especially on a nationwide scale. Three main goals of this study are:
(1) To compare levels of certain environmental chemical and biological
agents in green vs. traditional, multi-family, low-income housing; (2)
to ascertain differences in the health of the residents in these homes;
and (3) to assess the economic impacts of the ``greening'' of housing-
particularly those related to health. These goals will be accomplished
in an ongoing building renovation program, ``Mark-to-Market'' (M2M),
sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Briefly, the M2M program is a nationwide initiative that encourages
owners and purchasers of affordable, multi-family properties to
rehabilitate and operate their properties using sustainable green
building principles. In partnership with HUD, the CDC will leverage
this opportunity to collect survey and biomarker data from residents
and to collect environmental measurements in their homes in order to
evaluate associations between green housing and health.
This study directly supports the Healthy Homes' health protection
goal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This
investigation is also consistent with CDC's Health Protection Research
Agenda, which calls for research to identify the major environmental
causes of disease and disability and related risk factors.
Indoor allergens such as those from cockroaches, dust mites, mice,
and fungi have been associated with childhood asthma. Also, VOCs and
pesticides have been associated with adverse birth outcomes (e.g., low
birth weight and prematurity) and delayed neurodevelopment. Given that
green principles such as improvement of ventilation systems and
elimination of spray pesticides can directly affect the concentrations
of chemical and biological agents in air, residents in green housing
should theoretically have better health outcomes (e.g., asthma, birth
outcomes, and infant neurodevelopment, this in turn will lead to lower
healthcare utilization and overall societal costs.
Participants will include pregnant women, mothers and children
living in
[[Page 3049]]
HUD-subsidized housing that has either been rehabilitated in a green
(e.g., case) or a traditional manner (e.g., control) from study sites
across the United States. Pregnant women and children with asthma (ages
7-12 years) will donate blood samples (for assessment of allergy) and
urine samples (for assessment of pesticide and VOC exposures). The
children with asthma (ages 7-12 years) will be also tested for lung
function and lung inflammatory markers. Questionnaires regarding home
characteristics and respiratory symptoms will be administered at 3-
month intervals over a 2-year period. Of the pregnant women enrolled,
neurodevelopment of their infant will be tested at ages 1 week and 6
months. Environmental sampling of the air and dust in the participants'
homes will be conducted over a 2 year period (once in the home before
rehabilitation, and then at four time points after rehabilitation has
been completed: Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months).
Environmental sampling includes measurements of air exchange rate,
pesticides, VOCs, indoor allergens, fungi, temperature, humidity, and
particulate matter.
There is no cost to respondents other than their time.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Average burden
Respondents Forms Number of responses per per response Total burden
respondents respondent (in hours) (in hours)
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Mothers of enrolled children............... Screening questionnaire............ 800 1 5/60 067
Baseline Questionnaire (Home 688 1 15/60 172
Characteristics).
Baseline Questionnaire (for Mother) 688 1 15/60 172
Baseline Questionnaire (for 688 1 15/60 172
Children 0-6 years).
Baseline Questionnaire (for 688 1 15/60 172
Children 7-12 with asthma).
3, 9, 15, and 18-month Phone 688 4 5/60 229
contact.
6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up 688 3 10/60 344
Questionnaire (for environment).
6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up 688 3 10/60 344
Questionnaire (for women).
6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up 688 3 10/60 344
Questionnaire (for children 0-6).
6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up 688 3 10/60 344
Questionnaire (for asthmatic child
7-12).
Pregnant women............................. Screening questionnaire............ 800 1 5/60 67
Baseline Questionnaire (Home 688 1 15/60 172
Characteristics).
Baseline Questionnaire (for 688 1 15/60 172
Pregnant woman).
3, 9, 15, and 18-month Phone 688 4 5/60 229
contact.
6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up 688 3 10/60 344
Questionnaire (for environment).
6, 12, and 24-month Follow-up 688 3 10/60 344
Questionnaire (for women).
Post-delivery questionnaire........ 688 1 5/60 57
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Total............................................................................................................................. 3745
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Dated: January 8, 2009.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. E9-890 Filed 1-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P