Federal Register: October 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 198)
DOCID: FR Doc 02-25922
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Meetings:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of meeting.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Panel Discussion--Health Effects of Asbestos and Synthetic Vitreous Fibers: The Influence of Fiber Length
DATES: The panel discussion will be held on October 29, 2002, from 1 p.m. to approximately 6 p.m., and October 30, 2002, from 8 a.m. to approximately 5:30 p.m.
Location: The panel discussion will be held at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10278. It is located on Broadway between Worth and Duane Streets. Participants must enter through the Broadway Street ``Federal Employees Entrance'' and show picture identification and a registration confirmation email from ERG. To make hotel reservations at the nearby Holiday Inn Downtown/SoHo, please call the hotel directly at 2129668898. Reference the ``ATSDR Fibers Panel'' to receive the group rate of $195.00/night plus 13.25 percent tax and $2.00 occupancy tax. You must make your reservation before October 14, 2002. After this date, any remaining rooms will be released from our block and sold on a space and rateavailable basis.
Attending the Panel Discussion: The public is welcome to attend the panel discussions. There is no charge for attending the meeting; however, you must preregister as seating is limited. To register, send your full contact information (name, affiliation, mailing address, phone, fax, and email) to ATSDR's contractor, Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG) by email (meetings@erg.com) or fax (7816742906), referencing the ``ATSDR Fibers Panel.'' If you have any questions about registration, please call ERG directly at 7816747374.
A limited amount of time will be set aside for members of the public to present brief oral comments regarding asbestos and synthetic vitreous fiberrelated scientific issues. Oral presentations will be limited to 5 minutes, and the number of people giving oral comments may be limited by the time available. Opportunity for making oral comment will be provided on a firstcome, firstserved basis; therefore, the public is encouraged to preregister and signup to present oral comments by emailing (meetings@erg.com) or faxing (7816742906) ERG. After the meeting, ATSDR will prepare a summary report that will capture the salient points of each of the panel members and observers. The agency will consider the scientific information received during the meeting to aid in developing scientifically defensible public health evaluations for human exposures to smallerthan5micron fibers and in the formulation of future research proposals.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
ATSDR is holding a panel discussion to review and discuss the
current stateoftheart understanding of health effects related to
asbestos and synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs), especially those of less
than 5 microns in length. ATSDR has invited a crosssection of
scientists with expertise in the fields of toxicology, epidemiology,
pulmonology/pathology, and medicine to participate in 1\1/2\ days of
discussions on a variety of topics, including depositional patterns of
fibers in the lung and mechanisms of toxic action, the relationship of
fiber size to toxicity, irritant effects of fibers, relationships [[Page 63432]]
between measured fiber levels and observed adverse health outcomes, and
data gaps/research needs. ATSDR will use the scientific input received
from the discussions of each of the individuals to aid in developing
scientifically defensible public health evaluations for human exposures
to smallerthan5micron fibers and in the formulation of future
research proposals.
SUMMARY:
Asbestos and synthetic vitreous fibers; health effects; fiber length influence; panel discussion,