[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1434-1435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-274]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket Number NIOSH-189]


Request for Information on 2,3-Pentanedione and Other Alpha-
Diketones Used As Diacetyl Substitutes

AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends 
to evaluate the scientific data on 2,3-pentanedione (CAS 600-
14-6, also known as pentane-2,3-dione; acetyl propionyl) and other 
alpha-diketones and develop appropriate communication documents, such 
as a Current Intelligence Bulletin, Criteria Document and/or other 
informational products, and potentially establish a Recommended 
Exposure Limit (REL) for diacetyl substitutes. NIOSH is requesting 
information on the following: (1) Published and unpublished reports and 
findings from in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies with 2,3-
pentanedione, and other alpha diketones, (2) information on possible 
health effects observed in workers exposed to 2,3-pentanedione, and 
other alpha-diketones, (3) information on workplaces and products in 
which 2,3-pentanedione and other alpha-diketones can be found, (4) 
description of work tasks and scenarios with a potential for exposure 
to 2,3-pentanedione and other alpha-diketones, (5) workplace exposure 
data, and (6) information on control measures (e.g., engineering 
controls, work practices, personal protective equipment) that are being 
used in workplaces where potential exposures to 2,3-pentanedione and 
other alpha diketones occur.
    Public Comment Period: Comments must be received by February 9, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number NIOSH-
189 by any of the following methods:

[[Page 1435]]

     Mail: NIOSH Docket Office, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, 
MS-C34, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226.
     Facsimile: (513) 533-8285.
     E-mail: [email protected].
    All information received in response to this notice will be 
available for public examination and copying at the NIOSH Docket 
Office, Room 111, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226. A 
complete electronic docket containing all comments submitted will be 
available on the NIOSH Web page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket, and 
comments will be available in writing by request. NIOSH includes all 
comments received without change in the docket, including any personal 
information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauralynn Taylor McKernan, NIOSH, 
Robert A Taft Laboratories, MS-C32, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, 
OH 45226, telephone: (513) 533-8542.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 2,3-pentanedione is an alpha-diketone that 
has received attention as a substitute for diacetyl. 2,3-pentanedione 
is structurally very similar to diacetyl since 2,3-pentanedione is a 5-
carbon alpha-diketone and diacetyl is a 4-carbon alpha-diketone. 
Published reports on the toxicity of 2,3-pentanedione are currently 
only in abstract form but suggest that in rats 2,3-pentanedione causes 
airway epithelial damage similar to that produced by diacetyl (Hubbs et 
al. 2010b; Morgan et al. 2010). Preliminary data also suggest that, 
under certain conditions, both diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione can cause 
changes in the central nervous system (Hubbs et al. 2010a). Additional 
alpha-diketones of interest include, but are not limited to, those used 
in food manufacturing such as 2,3-hexanedione and 2,3-heptanedione 
(Kreiss et al. 2010).
    NIOSH seeks to obtain materials, including published and 
unpublished reports and research findings, to evaluate the possible 
health risks of occupational exposure to 2,3-pentanedione and other 
alpha-diketones used as diacetyl substitutes. Examples of requested 
information include, but are not limited to, the following:
    (1) Identification of industries or occupations in which exposures 
to 2,3-pentanedione, and other alpha-diketones used as diacetyl 
substitutes may occur;
    (2) Trends in the production and use of 2,3-pentanedione, and other 
alpha-diketones;
    (3) Description of work tasks and scenarios with a potential for 
exposure to 2,3-pentanedione, and other alpha-diketones used as 
diacetyl substitutes;
    (4) Workplace exposure measurement data in various types of 
industries and jobs where 2,3-pentanedione, and other alpha-diketones 
are used;
    (5) Case reports or other health information demonstrating 
potential health effects in workers exposed to 2,3-pentanedione, and 
other alpha-diketones;
    (6) Research findings from in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies;
    (7) Information on control measures (e.g., engineering controls, 
work practices, personal protective equipment) being taken to minimize 
worker exposure to 2,3-pentanedione, and other alpha-diketones used as 
diacetyl substitutes;
    (8) Educational materials for worker safety and training on the 
safe handling of 2,3-pentanedione and other alpha-diketones; and
    (9) Data pertaining to the feasibility of establishing a REL for 
2,3-pentanedione, and other alpha-diketones.

References

Hubbs, A. F., Cumpston, A., Goldsmith, W. T., Battelli, L. A., 
Kashon, M. L., Jackson, M. C., Frazer, D. G., Fedan, J. S., 
Goravanahally, M. P., and Sriram, K. (2010a). Acute central 
neurotoxicity of inhaled alpha-diketon butter flavoring compounds in 
the rat brain. Vet Path 47(6), 57S.
Hubbs, A. F., Moseley, A. E., Goldsmith, W. T., Jackson, M. C., 
Kashon, M. L., Battelli, L. A., Schwegler-Berry, D., Goravanahally, 
M. P., Frazer, D., Fedan, J. S., Kreiss, K., and Castranova, V. 
(2010b). Airway epithelial toxicity of the flavoring agent, 2,3-
pentanedione. The Toxicologist: Supplement to Toxicological Sciences 
114(1), 319.
Kreiss, K., Day, G. A., Cummings, K. J., and Kullman, G. (2010). 
Diacetul substitutes in bakery product manufacture Am J Respir Crit 
Care Med 181(1), A4650.
Morgan, D. L., Kirby, P. J., Price, H. C., Bosquet, R. W., Taylor, 
G. J., Gage, N., and Flake, G. P. (2010). Inhalation toxicity of 
acetyl proprionyl in rats and mice. The Toxicologist: Supplement to 
Toxicological Sciences 114(1), 316.

John Howard,
Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2011-274 Filed 1-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P