[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58391-58392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24021]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60 Day-10-0527]


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 404-639-5960 
and send comments to Maryam I. Daneshvar, CDC Reports Clearance 
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail 
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e48b8986a4878087ca838b92"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e986848ba98a8d8ac78e869f">[email protected]</span></a>.
    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. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Human Exposure to Cyanobacterial Toxins in Water (OMB No. 0920-0527 
exp. 2/28/2011)--Revision--National Center for Environmental Health 
(NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) can be found in 
terrestrial, fresh, brackish, or marine water environments. Some 
species of cyanobacteria produce toxins that may cause acute or chronic 
illnesses (including neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and skin 
irritation) in humans and animals (including other mammals, fish, and 
birds). A number of human health effects, including gastroenteritis, 
respiratory effects, skin irritations, allergic responses, and liver 
damage, are associated with the ingestion of or contact with water 
containing cyanobacterial blooms. Although the balance of evidence, in 
conjunction with data from laboratory animal research, suggests that 
cyanobacterial toxins are responsible for a range of human health 
effects, there have been few epidemiologic studies of this association.
    In the first study of recreational microcystin (MC) exposure at a 
small lake, 104 study participants from lake visitors planning 
recreational activities that would generate aerosols were recruited, 
such as boating and using personal watercraft. During data collection 
for that study, MC concentrations within the bloom lake water were very 
low (<2-5 [mu]g/L). Study participants' plasma MC concentrations were 
all below the limit of detection (0.147 [mu]g/L) for the enzyme-linked 
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The second study of recreational exposure 
to microcystins involved 81 children and adults planning recreational 
activities on one of three California reservoirs, two with significant, 
ongoing blooms of toxin-producing cyanobacteria, including Microcystis 
aeruginosa (bloom lakes) and one without a toxin-producing algal bloom 
(control lake). Highly variable microcystin concentrations were found 
in bloom lakes (<10 [mu]g/L to > 500 [mu]g/L); microcystin was not 
detected in control lake samples. Neither adenoviruses nor 
enteroviruses were detected in any of the lakes. Low microcystin 
concentrations were found in personal air samples (< 0.1 ng/m\3\ [limit 
of detection]--2.89 ng/m\3\) and nasal swabs (< 0.1 ng [limit of 
detection]--5 ng). Microcystin concentrations in the water-soluble 
fraction of all plasma samples were below the limit of detection (1.0 
[mu]g/L). Findings indicate that recreational activities in waterbodies 
experiencing toxin-producing cyanobacterial blooms can generate 
aerosolized cyanotoxins, making inhalation a potential route of 
exposure.
    Based on earlier work, it seems unlikely that recreational exposure 
to cyanobacteria toxins during algal blooms on small lakes will cause 
acute illness in people. However, there are occupational circumstances, 
such as using stagnant ponds to irrigate landscapes or golf courses and 
growing and harvesting catfish in standing ambient water ponds, where 
exposure to these toxins is likely to be greater than what have been 
observed during recreational activities. It is possible that these 
workers may be exposed to biologically relevant concentrations of 
cyanobacterial toxins while performing job-related activities. To 
address this concern, this proposal is to assess exposure of catfish 
farm workers to cyanobacteria toxins occurring in the standing water of 
catfish ponds in Alabama. Dr. Alan Wilson of Auburn University will be 
a collaborator. Dr. Wilson has considerable experience working with the 
catfish farmers to address how the presence of cyanobacteria in pond 
water can impact the taste and odor of catfish offered for sale to 
commercial markets. Since most of the ponds of interest tend to develop 
HABs comprising Microcystis aeruginosa, this study will be limited to 
exposure to microcystins.
    The purpose of the new data collection is to continue assessing the 
public health impact of exposure to the cyanobacterial toxins, 
microcystins. The extent of human exposure to microcystins present in 
catfish pond waters and associated aerosols and whether serum levels of 
microcystins can be used as a biomarker of exposure will be examined.

[[Page 58392]]



                                       Estimate of Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                          Average
                                                           Number of       Number of     burden per     Total
           Respondents                  Form name         respondents    responses per    response      burden
                                                                          respondent     (in hours)     hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catfish farm workers.............  Screening                        60               1         5/60            5
                                    Questionnaire.
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Pre-exposure                     50               1        10/60            8
                                    Questionnaire.
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Post-exposure                    50               4        10/60           33
                                    Questionnaire.
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total........................  ...................  ..............  ..............  ...........           46
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    Dated: September 20, 2010.
Thelma E. Sims,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2010-24021 Filed 9-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P


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