[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 19399-19400] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-9536] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [OPPTS-46023; FRL-4948-6] Respirable Fibrous Particles; Workshop on Chronic Inhalation Toxicity and Carcinogenicity Testing AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces a workshop on chronic inhalation toxicity and carcinogenicity testing of respirable fibrous particles. The workshop is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. DATES: The workshop will be held May 8-10, 1995. The 3-day workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Omni Europa Hotel in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Members of the public wishing to attend the workshop as observers should register by phoning Research and Evaluation Associates (REA), at the telephone number listed below. Please note that space is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis. Copies of the workshop agenda will be available at the workshop. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Willis, Acting Director, Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Rm. E-543B, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 554-1404, TDD (202) 554-0551. For Technical Information Contact: Dr. David Lai, Health and Environmental Review Division, (7403), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-6222. For logistical information, and to register, please call Research and Evaluation Associates, at (919) 968-4961. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An important task for environmental protection is to identify, and subsequently to prevent, eliminate, or mitigate the risks to human health and the environment posed by toxic substances. Natural and synthetic fibers are one group of substances that have been identified to be of potential concern. The health endpoints of potential concern for respirable fibers are the potential development of respiratory diseases, including cancer, from chronic inhalation exposure. Many of these fibers have wide industrial and commercial applications, but there is limited, inconclusive, or virtually no information about their health effects and/or exposure to workers, consumers, and the general public. As a result, EPA has added to its Master Testing List (MTL) a ``respirable fibers'' category as priority substances for health effects and exposure testing to obtain the necessary data to evaluate the extent and magnitude of health risks to the exposed individuals and populations. This would then allow the Agency to determine whether or not there is a basis for any risk reduction measures. EPA recognizes that the current health effects test guidelines for chronic inhalation toxicity and/or carcinogenicity are not specific enough for the testing of fibrous substances. Thus, there is a need for EPA to develop standardized health effects test [[Page 19400]] guidelines for fibrous substances that can be used by EPA in future rulemaking, negotiated enforceable consent agreement, or voluntary action to obtain the necessary toxicologic information for risk assessment. At present, there is no general agreement upon test protocols for chronic inhalation toxicity and carcinogenicity testing of fibers for regulatory purposes. It is, therefore, important for the Agency to obtain input from the scientific community on a number of issues related to fiber testing prior to the development of proposed standardized study protocol(s) for respirable fibers. EPA, in collaboration with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, through an interagency working group has scheduled a workshop on chronic inhalation toxicity and carcinogenicity testing of respirable fibrous particles to be held May 8-10, 1995. The goal of the workshop is to obtain scientific evaluations and recommendations from outside expert scientists on: (1) Issues dealing with the design and conduct of chronic inhalation studies of fibers. (2) What preliminary studies would be useful guides in designing the chronic study. (3) What mechanistic studies would be important adjuncts to the chronic study to enable better interpretation of study results and extrapolation of potential effects in exposed humans. (4) Which, or which combination of the available screening studies constitute a minimum data set which can be used to make judgements about the potential health hazard of the fiber in question, and prioritize the need for further testing in a chronic inhalation study. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2603 Dated: April 7, 1995. Charles M. Auer, Director, Chemical Control Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. [FR Doc. 95-9536 Filed 4-17-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F