National Toxicology Program

[Federal Register: February 11, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 28)]
[Notices]
[Page 6950]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service

National Toxicology Program

National Toxicology Program (NTP) Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting; Review of Draft Technical Reports on Alternating Magnetic Field Studies in Rodents

Pursuant to Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given of the next meeting of the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors' Technical Reports Review Subcommittee on March 11, 1998, in the Conference Center, Building 101, South Campus, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), 111 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m., and is open to the public. The agenda topic is the peer review of draft Technical Reports of long-term toxicology and carcinogenesis studies and shorter-term mechanistic studies in rodents on 50 Hz and 60 Hz magnetic fields (EMF) from the National Toxicology Program.

Background
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in 1988 nominated 60 Hertz (Hz) (power line frequency) electric and magnetic fields (EMF) to the NIEHS/NTP for evaluation in NTP toxicology and carcinogenesis studies. This nomination was prompted by reports suggesting an association between EMF exposure and increased risk for childhood leukemia as well as reports on mammary tumors in rodent models for experimental carcinogenesis. In response, the NTP has conducted a series of conventional rodent toxicity and cancer studies. After the NTP studies started, the Congress passed an Energy Policy Act (Section 2118 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992; 42 USC 13478) which provided for an accelerated research program. Under this act, additional studies were conducted to explore the possibility that magnetic fields could promote breast cancer in rats.

Agenda
There will be an orientation to the NTP study process followed by peer review of the draft Technical Report of the two-year toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of 60 Hz EMF with four exposure intensities and sham controls in both sexes of B6C3F₁ mice and F344/N rats. The meeting will conclude with peer review of the draft Technical Report of two 13-week and one 26-week DMBA initiation/magnetic field promotion studies. Copies of the draft Reports may be obtained, as available, from: Central Data Management, MD E1-02, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (919/541-3419), FAX (919/541-3687), email: CDM@niehs.nih.gov. The Internet EMF RAPID Program website is http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/home.htm.

Public Comment
Persons wanting to make a formal presentation must notify the Executive Secretary by telephone, FAX, mail, or email no later than March 6, 1998, and, if possible, provide a written copy in advance of the meeting so copies can be made and distributed to all Subcommittee members, ad hoc expert consultants, and staff, and made available for attendees at the meeting. Written statements should supplement and may expand on the oral presentation. Oral presentations should be limited to no more than five minutes. The Program would welcome receiving toxicology and carcinogenesis information from completed, ongoing, or planned studies by others on electric and magnetic fields. Please contact Central Data Management at the address given above, and they will relay the information to the appropriate staff scientist.

The Executive Secretary, Dr. Larry G. Hart, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 (telephone 919/541-3971; FAX 919/541-0295; email hart@niehs.nih.gov) will furnish an agenda, a roster of Subcommittee members and expert consultants, and a brief background/overview on the EMF studies program prior to the meeting. Summary minutes subsequent to the meeting will be available upon request to Central Data Management.

Dated: February 2, 1998

________________________
Samuel H. Wilson, M.D.
Deputy Director
National Toxicology Program

(Billing Code 4140-01-P)