The Agricultural Health Study (AHS)
program staff is requesting approval of this revision to begin
information collection in February, 2013. AHS is a cohort study of
89,568 licensed pesticide applicators (both private and commercial
applicators) and the spouses of the private applicators in Iowa and
North Carolina that is to be followed for 20 years or more. The
stimulus for this prospective investigation comes from the growing
evidence that, despite a low mortality overall, farmers experience
an excess of several cancers, including lymphatic and hematopoietic
system, connective tissue, skin, brain, prostate, stomach and lips.
This suggests a common set of exposures which may explain the high
rates in farmers and rising rates in the general population. NCI is
primarily interested in cancer outcomes and NIEHS is interested in
other disease outcomes. For this phase of the data collection,
NIEHS will be taking the lead role in collecting information for
this phase of the study. This revision is to initiate and complete
the phase IV follow-up interview (2013-2015) as well as to continue
and complete the ongoing Study of Biomarkers of Exposures Effects
in Agriculture (BEEA) and buccal cell collections. The primary
objective of the AHS study remains to be determination of the
health effects resulting from occupational and environmental
exposures in agriculture. Similar questionnaires are being used as
in previous AHS interviews to obtain information on non-cancer
outcomes. New for phase IV, questionnaire data will be collected by
using one of three methods of the cohort member's choosing:
self-administered computer assisted web survey; self-administered
paper-and-pen; or an interviewer administered computer assisted
telephone interview. Additionally, because loss to follow up of
diseased individuals is a critical issue, we have added proxy
interviews for those deceased or too ill to complete themselves
will be completed by using one of the three methods.
US Code:
42
USC 285l Name of Law: Public Health Service Act
This revision is a program
change due to agency discretion and represents an increase in
burden from the previous submission approved in 2010. The increase
in burden for this revision is accounted for by the initiation of
the phase IV follow up scheduled from February 2013 through
December 2015. As well, this is a continuation to complete the
information collection related to the Study of Biomarkers of
Exposures Effects in Agriculture (BEEA) and buccal cells. Similar
questionnaires are being used to ones that have been employed in
previous AHS interviews to obtain information on non-cancer
outcomes. New for phase IV, questionnaire data will be collected by
using one of three methods of the cohort member's choosing:
self-administered computer assisted web survey; self-administered
paper-and-pen; or an interviewer administered computer assisted
telephone interview. Additionally, because loss to follow up of
diseased individuals is a critical issue, we have added proxy
interviews for those deceased or too ill to complete themselves
will be completed by using one of the three methods. The
Agricultural Health Study has been conducted through contractors
since its inception. An additional change is that the National
Institutes of Environmental Health (NIEHS) will be taking the lead
role in collecting updated health information for this phase of the
study. For this reason, the OMB clearance number is being
transferred from that National Cancer Institute to NIEHS.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.