NIOSH and NCI call a meeting on exposure to diesel exhaust

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will hold a meeting for exchange of information pertinent to procedural aspects of the study entitled "A Cohort Mortality Study with a Nested Case-Control Study of Lung Cancer and Diesel Exhaust among Non-Metal Miners" (the Diesel Study) on 24 September 1997, from 9:00 am to noon in the small auditorium on the ground floor of the Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20201. Since you or your organization have expressed interest in the study, we hope that you will be able to attend.

This is the first of several stakeholder meetings that NIOSH and NCI plan to hold to ensure that interested parties are kept fully informed and to hear and discuss concerns which may arise as the Diesel Study progresses. At this first meeting, the agenda will include the following topics:

1. Overview of the Study Protocol: NIOSH and NCI will present an overview of the protocol which was peer reviewed by the NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) from December 1996 to July 1997. At the July 23, 1997 meeting, the BSC voted unanimously that the protocol be approved and implemented. The agencies plan at this meeting and at future meetings to provide updates to interested parties on progress and any changes made to the protocol.
2. Changes in Diesel Technology: NIOSH and NCI wish to obtain historical information regarding technological changes in the diesel engine and usage of diesel engines in mining that over time may have affected underground miners' exposure to diesel exhaust.
3. Exposure Histories: NIOSH and NCI are also interested in locating potential historical sources of diesel exposure data in mines that might contribute to estimation of historical exposure levels for this study.
4. NIOSH and NCI will provide information on their plans to address requests for access to data while the study is in process.
5. Additional Matters: The agencies may raise other matters for information sharing which arise subsequent to this announcement.

NIOSH and NCI recognize that continued input by interested parties is important for the Diesel Study to achieve its aims and look forward to your participation. If you wish to make an oral statement, please contact Dr Michael Attfield at 304/285-5737 (fax 304/285-5861, e-mail MDA1@CDC.GOV) so that a time slot can be allocated. We also encourage you to submit a supplemental written statement in the interest of accuracy, and because the duration of individual oral statements may be limited by the need to accommodate all participants.

Source: NIOSH