[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8023-8024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4281]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Availability of Draft Guidance on Childhood Lead Screening
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for review and comment
of a draft document entitled, ``Screening Young Children for Lead
Poisoning.'' The document was prepared by CDC staff with advice from
CDC's Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, a
group of non-Federal experts on childhood lead poisoning prevention.
The document also reflects the comments of many other persons involved
in scientific and programmatic aspects of childhood lead poisoning
prevention and child health.
DATES: To ensure consideration, written or verbal comments on this
draft document must be received by April 7, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the draft document must be made by
calling the toll free telephone number: (888) 232-6789. Verbal comments
on the draft document may be made by calling the same toll free
telephone number. Written comments on the draft
[[Page 8024]]
document should be sent by mail or facsimile to: Nancy Tips, NCEH/CDC,
Mailstop F42, 4770 Buford Highway, N.E., Atlanta, GA, 30341-3724,
facsimile (770) 488-7335.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Childhood lead poisoning is a major
preventable environmental health problem in the United States. Since
1975, when CDC issued its first comprehensive guidelines for preventing
lead poisoning in children, ``Increased Lead Absorption and Lead
Poisoning in Young Children,'' CDC has worked with public health
agencies, child health-care providers, and various concerned groups to
prevent lead poisoning in young children. Other editions of the
guidelines have been published in 1975, 1978, 1985, and 1991. Each
revision has incorporated new scientific and practical information on
how best to reduce the adverse effects of lead on the health of young
children. This draft guidance is narrower in scope than the 1991
edition of ``Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children.'' It does not
modify CDC's position on adverse health effects caused by lead.
Instead, it makes recommendations to improve the use of screening to
prevent lead poisoning among young children. These recommendations are
needed because data indicate that many children, especially those
living in older housing, continue to be heavily exposed to lead,
whereas the average exposure of children in the United States has
substantially declined. To address this situation, the recommendations
in this guidance are intended to increase the screening and follow-up
care of children who most need these services and to ensure that
prevention approaches are appropriate to local conditions. The audience
for this guidance includes State and local public health officials, who
will make screening recommendations for their jurisdictions, and
pediatricians and other child health-care providers, public health
agencies, and health care organizations, including managed care
organizations.
Dated: February 14, 1997.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-4281 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
