81 FR 3425 - Draft Current Intelligence Bulletin: Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials; Notice of Public Meeting; Availability of Document for Comment

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 13 (January 21, 2016)

On December 19, 2012, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in the Federal Register http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-12-19/pdf/ 2012-30515.pdf plans to evaluate the scientific data on silver nanomaterials and to issue its findings on the potential health risks. A draft document entitled, Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials, has been developed which contains a review and assessment of the currently available scientific literature on the toxicological effects of exposure to silver nanoparticles in experimental animal and cellular systems, and on the occupational exposures to silver dust and fume and the associated health effects. An emphasis area of this review is evaluating the scientific evidence on the role of particle size on the toxicological effects of silver, including the evidence basis to evaluate the adequacy of the current NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) for silver (metal dust and soluble compounds, as Ag) [available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/ npgd0557.html]. Recommendations are provided for the safe handling of silver nanoparticles, and research needs are proposed to fill important data gaps in the current scientific literature on the potential adverse health effects of occupational exposure to silver nanoparticles. NIOSH is seeking comments on the draft document and plans to have a public meeting to discuss the document. To view the notice and related materials, visit www.regulations.gov and enter CDC-2016-0001 in the field and click ``Search.'' This draft document does not have the force or effect of the law.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3425-3426]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01112]



[[Page 3425]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket CDC-2016-0001; NIOSH-260-A]


Draft Current Intelligence Bulletin: Health Effects of 
Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials; Notice of Public 
Meeting; Availability of Document for Comment

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 meeting and availability of draft document for 
public comment.

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SUMMARY: On December 19, 2012, the National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced 
in the Federal Register http://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-12-19/pdf/2012-30515.pdf plans to evaluate the scientific data on silver 
nanomaterials and to issue its findings on the potential health risks. 
A draft document entitled, Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to 
Silver Nanomaterials, has been developed which contains a review and 
assessment of the currently available scientific literature on the 
toxicological effects of exposure to silver nanoparticles in 
experimental animal and cellular systems, and on the occupational 
exposures to silver dust and fume and the associated health effects. An 
emphasis area of this review is evaluating the scientific evidence on 
the role of particle size on the toxicological effects of silver, 
including the evidence basis to evaluate the adequacy of the current 
NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) for silver (metal dust and 
soluble compounds, as Ag) [available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0557.html].
    Recommendations are provided for the safe handling of silver 
nanoparticles, and research needs are proposed to fill important data 
gaps in the current scientific literature on the potential adverse 
health effects of occupational exposure to silver nanoparticles. NIOSH 
is seeking comments on the draft document and plans to have a public 
meeting to discuss the document. To view the notice and related 
materials, visit www.regulations.gov and enter CDC-2016-0001 in the 
field and click ``Search.'' This draft document does not have the force 
or effect of the law.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on March 23, 2016, 9:00 a.m.-
3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or after the last public commenter has spoken, 
whichever occurs first. Comments must be received on or before March 
21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the NIOSH/CDC Robert A. 
Taft Laboratories, Auditorium, 1150 Tusculum Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 
45226.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Geraci, NIOSH, Education and 
Information Division, Nanotechnology Research Center, Robert A. Taft 
Laboratories, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45226, (513) 533-
8339 (not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. Background: To discuss and obtain comments on the draft 
document, ``NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin: Health Effects of 
Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials''. Special emphasis will 
be placed on discussion of the following:
     Whether the health hazard identification, risk estimation, 
and discussion of health effects of silver and silver nanomaterials are 
a reasonable reflection of the current understanding of the scientific 
literature;
     Workplaces and occupations where exposure to silver and 
silver nanomaterials may occur; and studies on health effects 
associated with occupational exposure to silver dust and fume;
     Current strategies for controlling or preventing exposure 
to silver and silver nanomaterials (e.g., engineering controls, work 
practices, personal protective equipment);
     Current exposure measurement methods and challenges in 
measuring workplace exposures to silver nanomaterials; and
     Areas for future collaborative efforts (e.g., research, 
communication, development of exposure measurement and control 
strategies).
    II. Public Meeting: NIOSH will hold a public meeting on the NIOSH 
Draft Current Intelligence Bulletin: Health Effects of Occupational 
Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials to allow commenters to provide oral 
comments on the draft document, to inform NIOSH about additional 
relevant data or information, and to ask questions on the draft 
document and NIOSH recommendations.
    The forum will include scientists and representatives from various 
government agencies, industry, labor, and other stakeholders, and is 
open to the public. Attendance is limited only by the space available. 
The meeting room accommodates 100 people. The meeting will be open to 
limited number of participants through a conference call phone number 
and Webcast live on the Internet. Due to the limited spaces, 
notification of intent to attend the meeting must be made to the NIOSH 
Docket Office, at [email protected], (513) 533-8611, or fax (513) 
533-8285, no later than March 9, 2016. Priority for attendance will be 
given to those providing oral comments. Other requests to attend the 
meeting will then be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.
    Registration is required. Because this meeting is being held at a 
Federal site, pre-registration is required on or before March 9, 2016 
and a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, military ID or 
passport) will be required to obtain entrance to the facility. There 
will be an airport type security check. Non[hyphen]US citizens need to 
register by February 12, 2016 to allow sufficient time for mandatory 
facility security clearance procedures to be completed. Additional 
personal information will be required. This information will be 
transmitted to the CDC Security Office for approval. An email 
confirming registration will be sent from NIOSH for both in-person 
participation and audio conferencing participation.
    Oral presentations will be limited to 15 minutes per presenter. If 
additional time becomes available, presenters will be notified. All 
requests to present should contain the name, address, telephone number, 
and relevant business affiliations of the presenter, topic of the 
presentation, and the approximate time requested for the presentation. 
An email confirming registration will be sent from the NIOSH Docket 
Office and will include details needed to participate. Oral comments 
given at the meeting will be recorded and included in the NIOSH Docket 
260-A.
    After reviewing the requests for presentations, NIOSH will notify 
the presenter that his/her presentation is scheduled. If a participant 
is not in attendance when his/her presentation is scheduled to begin, 
the remaining participants will be heard in order. After the last 
scheduled speaker is heard, participants who missed their assigned 
times may be allowed to speak, limited by time available.
    Attendees who wish to speak but did not submit a request for the 
opportunity to make a presentation may be given this opportunity after 
the scheduled speakers are heard, at the discretion of the presiding 
officer and limited by time available.

[[Page 3426]]

    You may submit comments, identified by CDC-2016-0001 and NIOSH 260-
A, by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health, NIOSH Docket Office, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS C-34, Cincinnati, 
Ohio 45226-1998.
    Instructions: All information received in response to this notice 
must include the agency name and docket number [CDC-2016-0001; NIOSH 
260-A]. All relevant comments received will be posted without change to 
www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided. All 
information will be available for public examination and copying at the 
NIOSH Docket Office, 1150 Tusculum Avenue, Room 155, Cincinnati, Ohio 
45226.
    Non-U.S. Citizens: Because of CDC Security Regulations, any non-
U.S. citizen wishing to attend this meeting must provide the following 
information in writing to the NIOSH Docket Officer at the address below 
no later than February 12, 2016.

Name:
Gender:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth (city, province, state, country):
Citizenship:
Passport Number:
Date of Passport Issue:
Date of Passport Expiration:
Type of Visa:
U.S. Naturalization Number (if a naturalized citizen):
U.S. Naturalization Date (if a naturalized citizen):
Visitor's Organization:
Organization Address:
Organization Telephone Number:
Visitor's Position/Title within the Organization:

    This information will be transmitted to the CDC Security Office for 
approval. Visitors will be notified as soon as approval has been 
obtained.

Public Review

    The external review of the draft document has been (1) developed in 
accordance with OMB guidelines, (2) is consistent with NIOSH peer 
review practice, and (3) is meant to ensure that credible and 
appropriate science is reflected within the draft document.

    Dated: January 14, 2016.
John Howard,
Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2016-01112 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-19-P