[Federal Register: April 3, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 64)]
[Notices]               
[Page 16284-16285]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ap03-65]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-03-56]

 
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 the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
    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. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.
    Proposed Project: Assessment of Exposure to Arsenic through 
Household Water, OMB No. 0920-0472--Extension--National Center for 
Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).

Background

    Arsenic is a naturally occurring element present in food and water 
as both organic and inorganic complexes. Epidemiologic evidence shows a 
strong link between ingestion of water containing inorganic arsenic and 
an increase in certain cancers (e.g., bladder cancer, lung cancer). 
Although consumption of arsenic-contaminated food is the major source 
of arsenic exposure for the majority of U.S. citizens, in some areas of 
the United States, elevated levels of arsenic occur frequently in 
water. In such areas, ingestion of water can be the primary source of 
arsenic exposure. Currently, point-of-use (POU) devices are the 
preferred method of treatment of private domestic well water containing 
elevated levels of arsenic. Bottled water and POU treatment systems are 
considered effective means of managing arsenic exposure based on the 
assumption that people's other water exposures, such as bathing, 
brushing of teeth, cooking, and drinking occasionally from other taps, 
contribute relatively minor amounts to a person's total daily intake of 
arsenic. We propose to conduct a study to methodically test the 
validity of the commonly made assumption that secondary water 
exposures, such as bathing, will not result in a significant increase 
in arsenic exposure above background dietary levels. Specifically, we 
are interested in assessing total urine arsenic levels and levels of 
organic and inorganic arsenic species among people in areas in which 
ingestion of arsenic-containing water is controlled by either POU 
treatment or use of bottled water. Potential participants who are 
interested in being part of the study will be interviewed by telephone. 
Recruited participants will be asked to participate in a survey 
interview about potential exposures to arsenic. Participants in the 
study will use short-term diaries to record diet, water consumption, 
and bathing frequency. In addition, we will assess long-term arsenic 
exposure by analyzing toenail samples for total arsenic.
    This request is for a 4-year extension. There are no costs to 
respondents.

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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Respondents                       Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs.)       (in hrs.)
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Prescreeing postcard completion.................          12,850               1            5/60            1071
Initial recruiting postcard completion..........           2,955               1            5/60             246

[[Page 16285]]


Recruiting telephone interview..................             975               1           15/60             244
Survey interview (in person)....................             780               1           30/60             390
Short-term diary completion.....................             780               1           15/60             195
Biologic specimen collection....................             780               1           10/60             130
Toenail analysis phone call.....................             260               1            5/60              22
Toenail analysis consent form...................             260               1            5/60              22
      Total.....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           2,320
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    Dated: March 27, 2003.
Thomas Bartenfeld,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-8043 Filed 4-2-03; 8:45 am]

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