03-8043. Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project: Assessment of Exposure to Arsenic through Household Water, OMB No. 0920-0472—Extension—National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element present in food and water as both organic and inorganic complexes. Epidemiologic evidence shows a strong link between ingestion of water containing inorganic arsenic and an increase in certain cancers (e.g., bladder cancer, lung cancer). Although consumption of arsenic-contaminated food is the major source of arsenic exposure for the majority of U.S. citizens, in some areas of the United States, elevated levels of arsenic occur frequently in water. In such areas, ingestion of water can be the primary source of arsenic exposure. Currently, point-of-use (POU) devices are the preferred method of treatment of private domestic well water containing elevated levels of arsenic. Bottled water and POU treatment systems are considered effective means of managing arsenic exposure based on the assumption that people's other water exposures, such as bathing, brushing of teeth, cooking, and drinking occasionally from other taps, contribute relatively minor amounts to a person's total daily intake of arsenic. We propose to conduct a study to methodically test the validity of the commonly made assumption that secondary water exposures, such as bathing, will not result in a significant increase in arsenic exposure above background dietary levels. Specifically, we are interested in assessing total urine arsenic levels and levels of organic and inorganic arsenic species among people in areas in which ingestion of arsenic-containing water is controlled by either POU treatment or use of bottled water. Potential participants who are interested in being part of the study will be interviewed by telephone. Recruited participants will be asked to participate in a survey interview about potential exposures to arsenic. Participants in the study will use short-term diaries to record diet, water consumption, and bathing frequency. In addition, we will assess long-term arsenic exposure by analyzing toenail samples for total arsenic.

This request is for a 4-year extension. There are no costs to respondents.

Respondents	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hrs.)	Total burden (in hrs.)
Prescreeing postcard completion	12,850	1	5/60	1071
Initial recruiting postcard completion	2,955	1	5/60	246
Recruiting telephone interview	975	1	15/60	244
Survey interview (in person)	780	1	30/60	390
Short-term diary completion	780	1	15/60	195
Biologic specimen collection	780	1	10/60	130
Toenail analysis phone call	260	1	5/60	22
Toenail analysis consent form	260	1	5/60	22
Total				2,320

Dated: March 27, 2003.

Thomas Bartenfeld,

Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.