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: Potential Reproductive and Neurological Effects of Exposure to Acrylamide—NEW—The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is to promote safety and health at work for all people through research and prevention. Consistent with this mission, NIOSH is undertaking a study of the reproductive and neurobehavioral effects of the occupational exposure to acrylamide. Acrylamide workers and control workers (N = 100 per group) will be recruited from manufacturing, end-user and non-exposed settings. Exposure will be characterized by acrylamide hemoglobin, adduct and urinary metabolite levels, ambient area, personal air, and dermal sampling. Reproductive effects will be evaluated by examining semen quality, sperm DNA integrity, reproductive hormone levels, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels.

Neurobehavioral effects will be assessed using sensation-tactile, postual stability, grooved pegboard, and simple reaction time tests. Two questionnaires will be administered on one occasion. Questionnaire information will be collected concurrently to augment test interpretation, adjust for potential confounders and covariates during regression analysis, correlate specific jobs and job activities with exposure measurements, and for validation purposes. Findings from this study will clarify if the adverse reproductive effects observed in animal studies are also present in acrylamide-exposed workers, and if preclinical neurobehavioral deficits are present at acrylamide doses currently considered to be within safe limits.

This study is scheduled for implementation in late 2003 and 2004. There are no costs to respondents.