[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17439]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 19, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service

 

National Toxicology Program; Fiscal Year 1993 Annual Report

    The National Toxicology Program (NTP) announces the availability of 
the NTP Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 1993, solicits comments on it, and 
urges all interested persons to propose chemicals for possible 
toxicological evaluation. In the interest of accuracy due to the 
lateness of publication, the fifteenth edition has been titled the NTP 
Annual Report, and as such it primarily contains program 
accomplishments for FY 1992. Accomplishments for FY 1993 and program 
plans for FY 1994 are reported in the FY 1994 Annual Plan (in press).

Background

    The National Toxicology Program (NTP) was established within the 
Public Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services 
(DHHS) in November 1978. The continuing broad goals of the NTP are to 
coordinate and strengthen DHHS basic and applied toxicology research 
and methods development and validation, and to provide toxicological 
information for use by health research and regulatory agencies and 
others in protecting the public health. Overall objectives are to:

    Broaden the spectrum of toxicological information obtained on 
selected chemicals;
    Increase the numbers of chemicals studied, within funding 
limits;
    Develop and validate assays and protocols responsive to 
regulatory needs;
    Communicate Program plans and results to governmental agencies, 
the medical and scientific communities, and the public.

    The NTP coordinates selected toxicology activities of the National 
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of 
Health; the National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug 
Administration; and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    Primary program oversight is provided by the NTP Executive 
Committee, which links DHHS health research institutes and centers with 
Federal health regulatory agencies to ensure that the basic and applied 
toxicology research and development activities are responsive to 
regulatory and public health needs. Agencies represented on the 
Executive Committee are:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Environmental Protection Agency
Food and Drug Administration
National Cancer Institute
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institutes of Health
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

    The NTP Board of Scientific Counselors provides scientific 
oversight, advising the NTP Director and the NTP Executive Committee on 
scientific content and evaluating the scientific merit and overall 
quality of NTP science. The members (listed in the 1993 Annual Report) 
are appointed by the Secretary, DHHS. For the purposes of the Program, 
the NTP Director reports to the Assistant Secretary for Health.
    Scientific activities are divided into three major program areas: 
carcinogenesis; genetic toxicology; and toxicologic characterization. 
The latter area covers activities in cardiac, immunologic, 
neurobehavioral, respiratory and reproductive and developmental 
toxicologies, and includes efforts in chemical disposition. There are 
special programs in studying the toxicities of AIDS therapeutics and 
the toxicities of Superfund chemicals. Program and project leaders, 
along with addresses and telephone numbers, are identified in the 1993 
Annual Report.
    The chemical nomination and selection process is integral to the 
effective long-term operation and success of the NTP with respect to 
toxicological studies of chemicals using modern techniques and to the 
development and validation of new assay methods, as well as for use in 
evaluation of new concepts of mechanisms of toxicity. Thus, the NTP 
welcomes nominations of chemicals for study from everyone. Especially 
sought are nominations of chemicals for study of noncancer endpoints. 
At a minimum, the nominator should give the name of the chemical or 
substance, the rationale for the nomination, and recommend the type 
study(s) to be considered. In addition, it is desirable, but not 
essential, to supplement each nomination with the following 
information, if known:

I. Chemical and physical properties.
II. Production, use, occurrence, and analysis data.
III. Toxicology information.
IV. Chemical disposition and structure-activity relationships.
V. Planned or ongoing or recently completed toxicological and 
environmental studies.

    To receive the NTP Annual Report for Fiscal Year 1993, please write 
or telephone the NTP Central Data Management, P.O. Box 12233, MD A0-01, 
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709, (telephone 919/541-3419).
    Comments on the FY 1993 NTP Annual Report are requested and 
welcome. These should be addressed to Dr. Larry Hart, National 
Toxicology Program, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709, 
(telephone 919/541-3971).

Richard Griesemer,

Deputy Director, National Toxicology Program.

[FR Doc. 94-17439 Filed 7-18-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140-01-P