[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8023-8024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4281]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Availability of Draft Guidance on Childhood Lead Screening

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for review and comment 
of a draft document entitled, ``Screening Young Children for Lead 
Poisoning.'' The document was prepared by CDC staff with advice from 
CDC's Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, a 
group of non-Federal experts on childhood lead poisoning prevention. 
The document also reflects the comments of many other persons involved 
in scientific and programmatic aspects of childhood lead poisoning 
prevention and child health.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written or verbal comments on this 
draft document must be received by April 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the draft document must be made by 
calling the toll free telephone number: (888) 232-6789. Verbal comments 
on the draft document may be made by calling the same toll free 
telephone number. Written comments on the draft

[[Page 8024]]

document should be sent by mail or facsimile to: Nancy Tips, NCEH/CDC, 
Mailstop F42, 4770 Buford Highway, N.E., Atlanta, GA, 30341-3724, 
facsimile (770) 488-7335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Childhood lead poisoning is a major 
preventable environmental health problem in the United States. Since 
1975, when CDC issued its first comprehensive guidelines for preventing 
lead poisoning in children, ``Increased Lead Absorption and Lead 
Poisoning in Young Children,'' CDC has worked with public health 
agencies, child health-care providers, and various concerned groups to 
prevent lead poisoning in young children. Other editions of the 
guidelines have been published in 1975, 1978, 1985, and 1991. Each 
revision has incorporated new scientific and practical information on 
how best to reduce the adverse effects of lead on the health of young 
children. This draft guidance is narrower in scope than the 1991 
edition of ``Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children.'' It does not 
modify CDC's position on adverse health effects caused by lead. 
Instead, it makes recommendations to improve the use of screening to 
prevent lead poisoning among young children. These recommendations are 
needed because data indicate that many children, especially those 
living in older housing, continue to be heavily exposed to lead, 
whereas the average exposure of children in the United States has 
substantially declined. To address this situation, the recommendations 
in this guidance are intended to increase the screening and follow-up 
care of children who most need these services and to ensure that 
prevention approaches are appropriate to local conditions. The audience 
for this guidance includes State and local public health officials, who 
will make screening recommendations for their jurisdictions, and 
pediatricians and other child health-care providers, public health 
agencies, and health care organizations, including managed care 
organizations.

    Dated: February 14, 1997.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-4281 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
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