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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3601-3602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [http://www.gpo.gov/]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01209]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

[CDC-2015-0003, Docket Number NIOSH-279]

NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin: Reproductive Risks 
Associated With Hazardous Drug Exposures in Healthcare Workers and 
Recommendations for Reducing Exposures

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: Request for information and comment.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces the 
availability of a draft Current Intelligence Bulletin entitled NIOSH 
Current Intelligence Bulletin: Reproductive Risks Associated with 
Hazardous Drug Exposures in Healthcare Workers and Recommendations for 
Reducing Exposures now available for public comment. To view the notice 
and related materials, visit http://www.regulations.gov/ and enter CDC-
2015-0003 in the search field and click ``Search.''
    Public comment period: Electronic or written comments must be 
received March 24, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by CDC-2015-0003 and 
Docket Number NIOSH-279, by either of the following two methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://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-2015-0003; NIOSH-
279]. All relevant comments received will be posted without change 
http://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal information 
provided. All information received in response to this notice will also 
be available for public examination and copying at the NIOSH Docket 
Office, 1150 Tusculum Avenue, Room 155, Cincinnati, OH 45226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin: Reproductive 
Risks Associated with Hazardous Drug Exposures in Healthcare Workers 
and Recommendations for Reducing Exposures reviews and summarizes all 
published studies on adverse reproductive effects of occupational 
exposures to antineoplastic drugs. Hazardous drugs, especially 
antineoplastic drugs, are some of the most potent teratogenic chemicals 
known. In addition, they can affect germinal cells, reproduction, and 
exposures can result in spontaneous abortion. This document summarizes 
results of animal studies, occupational epidemiology studies, as well 
as adverse effects that have been observed in patients treated with 
these drugs. While workplaces should be safe for all employees, the 
unique sensitivity of the developing fetus and the infant who is

[[Page 3602]]

breastfeeding necessitate the need for extra precautions when these 
drugs are handled by both males and females who are trying to conceive, 
women who may become or who are pregnant, and women who are breast 
feeding. Recommendations for temporary reassignment of duties or 
alternative duty are included in this guidance document.
    Information Needs: Additional data and information are needed to 
assist NIOSH to protect the reproductive health of healthcare workers 
who come in contact with antineoplastic drugs. Information is needed 
for: (1) Appropriateness of guidance, (2) Effect on work practices, (3) 
Confidentiality issues, (4) Financial impact.
    NIOSH seeks to obtain materials, including published and 
unpublished reports and research findings, to evaluate:
     Relevant publications not included in this document
     Institutional and organizational policies in effect
     Other relevant information related to this topic

References

Connor TH, DeBord G, Pretty JR, Oliver MS, Roth TS, Lees PSJ, Krieg EF, 
Rogers B, Escalante CP, Toennis CA, Clark JC, Johnson B, McDiarmid MA 
[2010]. Evaluation of antineoplastic drug exposure of health care 
workers at three university-based US cancer centers. J Occup Environ 
Med 52:1019-1027.
Connor TH, Lawson CC, Polovich M, McDiarmid MA [2014]. Reproductive 
health risks associated with occupational exposures to antineoplastic 
drugs in health care settings. JOEM 56: 901-10.
Lawson CC, Rocheleau CM, Whelan EA, Lividoti Hibert EN, Grajewski B, 
Spiegelman D, Rich-Edwards JW [2012]. Occupational exposures among 
nurses and risk of spontaneous abortions. Am J Obstet Gynecol 
206(327):e1-8.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas H. Connor, NIOSH, Division of 
Applied Research and Technologies, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, 1090 
Tusculum Avenue, MS-C23, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, Phone: (513) 533-8399, 
Email: hazardousdrugs@cdc.gov.

    Dated: January 15, 2015.
John Howard,
Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2015-01209 Filed 1-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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