[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58391-58392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24021]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60 Day-10-0527]
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 Reports Clearance
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail
to [email protected].
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
Human Exposure to Cyanobacterial Toxins in Water (OMB No. 0920-0527
exp. 2/28/2011)--Revision--National Center for Environmental Health
(NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
Cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) can be found in
terrestrial, fresh, brackish, or marine water environments. Some
species of cyanobacteria produce toxins that may cause acute or chronic
illnesses (including neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and skin
irritation) in humans and animals (including other mammals, fish, and
birds). A number of human health effects, including gastroenteritis,
respiratory effects, skin irritations, allergic responses, and liver
damage, are associated with the ingestion of or contact with water
containing cyanobacterial blooms. Although the balance of evidence, in
conjunction with data from laboratory animal research, suggests that
cyanobacterial toxins are responsible for a range of human health
effects, there have been few epidemiologic studies of this association.
In the first study of recreational microcystin (MC) exposure at a
small lake, 104 study participants from lake visitors planning
recreational activities that would generate aerosols were recruited,
such as boating and using personal watercraft. During data collection
for that study, MC concentrations within the bloom lake water were very
low (<2-5 [mu]g/L). Study participants' plasma MC concentrations were
all below the limit of detection (0.147 [mu]g/L) for the enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The second study of recreational exposure
to microcystins involved 81 children and adults planning recreational
activities on one of three California reservoirs, two with significant,
ongoing blooms of toxin-producing cyanobacteria, including Microcystis
aeruginosa (bloom lakes) and one without a toxin-producing algal bloom
(control lake). Highly variable microcystin concentrations were found
in bloom lakes (<10 [mu]g/L to > 500 [mu]g/L); microcystin was not
detected in control lake samples. Neither adenoviruses nor
enteroviruses were detected in any of the lakes. Low microcystin
concentrations were found in personal air samples (< 0.1 ng/m\3\ [limit
of detection]--2.89 ng/m\3\) and nasal swabs (< 0.1 ng [limit of
detection]--5 ng). Microcystin concentrations in the water-soluble
fraction of all plasma samples were below the limit of detection (1.0
[mu]g/L). Findings indicate that recreational activities in waterbodies
experiencing toxin-producing cyanobacterial blooms can generate
aerosolized cyanotoxins, making inhalation a potential route of
exposure.
Based on earlier work, it seems unlikely that recreational exposure
to cyanobacteria toxins during algal blooms on small lakes will cause
acute illness in people. However, there are occupational circumstances,
such as using stagnant ponds to irrigate landscapes or golf courses and
growing and harvesting catfish in standing ambient water ponds, where
exposure to these toxins is likely to be greater than what have been
observed during recreational activities. It is possible that these
workers may be exposed to biologically relevant concentrations of
cyanobacterial toxins while performing job-related activities. To
address this concern, this proposal is to assess exposure of catfish
farm workers to cyanobacteria toxins occurring in the standing water of
catfish ponds in Alabama. Dr. Alan Wilson of Auburn University will be
a collaborator. Dr. Wilson has considerable experience working with the
catfish farmers to address how the presence of cyanobacteria in pond
water can impact the taste and odor of catfish offered for sale to
commercial markets. Since most of the ponds of interest tend to develop
HABs comprising Microcystis aeruginosa, this study will be limited to
exposure to microcystins.
The purpose of the new data collection is to continue assessing the
public health impact of exposure to the cyanobacterial toxins,
microcystins. The extent of human exposure to microcystins present in
catfish pond waters and associated aerosols and whether serum levels of
microcystins can be used as a biomarker of exposure will be examined.
[[Page 58392]]
Estimate of Annualized Burden Hours
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Average
Number of Number of burden per Total
Respondents Form name respondents responses per response burden
respondent (in hours) hours
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Catfish farm workers............. Screening 60 1 5/60 5
Questionnaire.
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Pre-exposure 50 1 10/60 8
Questionnaire.
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Post-exposure 50 4 10/60 33
Questionnaire.
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Total........................ ................... .............. .............. ........... 46
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Dated: September 20, 2010.
Thelma E. Sims,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2010-24021 Filed 9-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P