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 (404) 498-1210.

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 Sandra Gambescia, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E11, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

Work-Related Stress Among Coal Miners—New—The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Work-related stress appears to increase the risk of atherosclerotic heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, and clinical depression. The mechanism by which stress increases the risk of chronic disease states is unknown, but is thought to involve abnormal communication between the brain and the endocrine system. Dysfunction of this communication system, called the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, is found in a number of chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. In a healthy individual, there is flexible communication between the hypothalamus and pituitary, both located in the brain, and the adrenal gland, located above the kidneys. When stresses occur throughout the day, cortisol is released from the adrenal gland in response to signals from the brain. Cortisol prepares the body to respond to stress, after which cortisol levels return to normal. Chronic stress, with protracted or repeated challenge to the HPA axis, may lead to inappropriate levels of cortisol, further decline of HPA axis function, and increased risk of chronic disease.

This study will investigate the relationship between workplace stress and function of the HPA axis among a sample population of coal miners. Coal miners experience a number of work-related stresses, such as long hours of work, heavy workloads, shift work, and concerns about stability of employment. Miners will be asked to complete a 25-minute survey which asks about traditional job stressors including shift schedule and rotation, workload, and degree of control over work. The survey also addresses stressors not typically examined in work stress surveys, including time spent in second jobs, commuting time to work, and responsibilities for care of children and the elderly.

Function of the HPA axis will be assessed by obtaining a series of cortisol samples from subjects right after they wake up in the morning. Recent studies have shown that the response of cortisol to awakening, measured in saliva, serves as a good marker of HPA axis function. Miners will be asked to obtain saliva samples at home, and send them to the NIOSH Morgantown laboratory for analysis.

Analyses will examine the relationship between the cortisol response to awakening, an indicator of HPA axis function, and measures of workplace stress. Data collected in this study will help NIOSH determine if workplace stress results in HPA axis dysfunction, which has been linked to a number of chronic disease conditions. There is no cost to respondents.