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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 8023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4280]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Request 
for Comments on the Toxicity of Carbonless Copy Paper

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

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NIOSH is requesting comments from all interested parties 
concerning possible adverse health effects among workers who have used 
carbonless copy paper. Interested parties may submit medical case 
reports, experimental data, or other information relating to the 
effects caused by such exposures. This information will be used by 
NIOSH to evaluate whether exposure to the chemical substances in 
carbonless copy paper poses health risks, and to determine the need for 
preventive health measures or additional research.

DATES: Written comments to this notice should be submitted to Diane 
Manning, NIOSH Docket Office, 4676 Columbia Parkway, M/S C-34, 
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226 on or before April 22, 1997. Comments may also 
be faxed to Diane Manning at (513) 533-8285 or submitted by email to: 
[email protected] as WordPerfect 5.0, 5.1/5.2, 6.0/6.1, or ASCII files.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information may be obtained 
from Dr. Paul A. Schulte, NIOSH, CDC, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Mailstop 
C-14, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, telephone (513) 533-8303.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to sections 20 and 22 of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 [29 U.S.C. 669 and 671], 
NIOSH is authorized to gather information in order to develop 
recommendations for improving occupational safety and health. NIOSH has 
been concerned about reported undesirable health effects in workers 
occupationally exposed to chemicals contained in or released from 
carbonless copy paper. On June 12, 1987, NIOSH published a Federal 
Register Notice (52 FR 22534) requesting comments and secondary data on 
the toxicity of carbonless copy paper. At that time it was determined, 
based on the submitted information, that insufficient data were 
available to conclude that the relationship between exposure to 
carbonless copy paper and the suggested health effects was a causal 
one.
    Carbonless copy paper is used to simultaneously make multiple paper 
copies of an original document. This system eliminates the need for 
carbon paper by using paper with a microencapsulated undercoating 
containing dyes and solvents. Writing, typing, or printing on the top 
sheet breaks the microcapsules immediately underneath, releasing the 
dyes and solvents to form the image on the paper surface below. Some 
substances used in carbonless copy paper include aliphatic compounds 
(C10-C14), aromatic compounds such as alkyl substituted 
biphenyls (polychlorinated biphenyls have not been used in carbonless 
copy paper in the United States since the early 1970's), phenyl methyl 
benzenes and hydrogenated terphenyls, diaryl ethanes, alkyl benzenes, 
benzyl xylene, isoparaffins, diisopropyl naththalenes, dibutyl 
phthalate, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, organic dyes, phenol-
formaldehyde resin, kaolin, starch, styrene, butadiene-latex, 
hydrogenated aluminum silicate, mineral oil, and sanatasol oil.
    Carbonless copy paper chemicals can be absorbed dermally or by 
inhalation. Several factors such as chemical composition and volume of 
the paper used, ambient temperature and ventilation rates in work or 
storage areas, and work practices may affect the extent of exposure. 
Adverse health effects in exposed workers were first reported in the 
scientific literature in the late 1960's. The signs and symptoms 
attributed to dermal exposure have included dryness, redness, 
irritation, eczema, tingle, and itchiness of the skin. The signs and 
symptoms attributed to inhalation exposures have included nasal 
congestion, drainage, bleeding, and irritation; upper respiratory tract 
irritation; asthma; throat tickle and hoarseness; and joint pain, 
fatigue, and headache.
    In order to update the information on carbonless copy paper, NIOSH 
is interested in obtaining existing and available information published 
or developed since 1987, including reports and research findings, to 
evaluate whether recommendations for health protection or further 
research on carbonless copy paper chemicals are needed. Examples of 
requested information include, but may not be limited to, the 
following:
    1. Adverse health signs or symptoms associated with occupational 
exposure to carbonless copy paper or its components.
    2. Epidemiology data assessing the incidence of health effects 
associated with occupational exposure to carbonless copy paper.
    3. Medical case reports and studies of adverse health effects 
associated with occupational exposure to carbonless copy paper. These 
medical case reports and studies should be submitted without personal 
identifiers.
    4. Industrial hygiene data and reports from work places where 
carbonless copy paper is used or handled.
    5. In Vivo or In Vitro toxicity data and studies on the components 
of carbonless copy paper.
    All information received in response to this notice, except that 
designated as trade secret and protected by section 15 of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act, will be available for public 
examination and copying at the above address.

    Dated: February 12, 1997.
Linda Rosenstock,
Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-4280 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P
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