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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (NIOSH, CDC) has authored a White Paper
entitled Asbestos and Other Mineral Fibers: A Roadmap for Scientific
Research (Roadmap). This document has been determined by NIOSH to
be an Influential Scientific Assessment according to Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) guidelines issued pursuant to Section 515 of Public
Law 106-554, commonly known as the "Data Quality Act" (codified at
44 USC 3504(d)(1) and 3516). To meet the OMB requirements for peer review
of Influential Scientific Assessments, peer reviewers have been identified,
and a peer review process has been developed. The overall goal
of the peer review is to enhance the quality and credibility of Agency
recommendations by ensuring that the scientific and technical work underlying
these recommendations receives appropriate review by independent scientific
and technical experts. The peer review charge described below was developed
in accordance with OMB guidelines, is consistent with NIOSH peer review
practice, and is meant to ensure that credible and appropriate science
is used in the development of its worker protection recommendations for
asbestos and other mineral fibers exposures in the workplace. In
addition to peer review, NIOSH welcomes comments and input on the Roadmap from
interested stakeholders and the public at large.
Charge to the Peer Reviewers
The goals of the Roadmap are to (1) describe the current NIOSH
policies for asbestos and other mineral fibers and their basis, (2) describe
the scientific uncertainties associated with asbestos and other mineral
fibers pertinent to worker protection policies, and (3) describe research
needs and directions to reduce the scientific uncertainties and develop
appropriate worker protection policies. The charge to the Peer Reviewers
is to objectively review the Roadmap and substantive comments
received from stakeholders and the public to determine whether
- the current NIOSH policies for asbestos and other mineral fibers
have been adequately described;
- the key issues and scientific uncertainties impacting worker health
protection policies for asbestos and other mineral fibers have been
clearly identified,
- the identified research needs and research approaches would likely
lead to greater scientific understanding of the health effects of asbestos
and other mineral fibers, and
- the results of the identified research needs and research approaches
would appropriately inform the development of more effective worker
protection policies for asbestos and other mineral fibers.
Reviewers of this Roadmap will address the five questions below:
- Is the hazard identification and discussion of health effects for
asbestos and mineral fibers a reasonable reflection of the current
understanding of the evidence in the scientific literature?
- Is the discussion of the current understanding of the analytical
issues and the research needs for analysis of asbestos and mineral
fibers appropriate and relevant?
- Is the discussion of the current understanding of the epidemiological
issues and the research needs for understanding the health effects
of asbestos and mineral fibers appropriate and relevant?
- Is the discussion of the current understanding of the toxicological
issues and the research needs for understanding the health effects
of asbestos and mineral fibers appropriate and relevant?
- Is the discussion of the path forward appropriate and relevant and
is the ultimate vision a reasonable outcome for the proposed research
strategy for asbestos and mineral fibers?
Public Meeting
A public meeting will be held in May 2007, in Washington, DC, as a forum
for scientists and representatives of government agencies, industry,
labor, and other stakeholders to discuss the Roadmap, ask
questions, and provide oral and written comments on the Roadmap. The
meeting will be open to the public, limited only by the space available.
An announcement of the meeting (date, location) will be published in
the Federal Register.
Stakeholder and Other Public Input and Comments
We request that public comments be submitted to the NIOSH Docket Office
by May 31, 2007. Please return your written comments either by mail (to
Diane Miller, NIOSH Docket Office, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, Mail
Stop C-34, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226) or electronically
via e-mail (to nioshdocket@cdc.gov.)
All electronic comments should be formatted as Microsoft Word. Please
make reference to docket number NIOSH-099.
Time Frame for Review
All substantive public comments received in the NIOSH Docket Office by May 31,
2007 will be provided to the Peer Reviewers by June 30, 2007. The Peer Reviewers
will develop individual reports that take into consideration the substantive
stakeholder comments. Reports are expected to be received by NIOSH
by August 15, 2007. NIOSH will then consider and respond to the comments
received before issuing a final Roadmap.
List of Reviewers
William N. Rom, MD, MPH
New York University
Ann Wylie, Ph.D.
University of Maryland
Brooke Mossman, Ph.D.
University of Vermont
Morton Lippmann, Ph.D.
New York University
David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH
George Washington University
Franklin Mirer, Ph.D.
Hunter College
William Eschenbacher, MD
Group Health Associates
Brad Van Gosen, MS
US Geological Survey
L. Christine Oliver, MD, MPH
Harvard School of Medicine
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