
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC300j-18]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                    CHAPTER 6A--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
 
             SUBCHAPTER XII--SAFETY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
 
                       Part E--General Provisions
 
Sec. 300j-18. Drinking water studies


(a) Subpopulations at greater risk

                           (1) In general

        The Administrator shall conduct a continuing program of studies 
    to identify groups within the general population that may be at 
    greater risk than the general population of adverse health effects 
    from exposure to contaminants in drinking water. The study shall 
    examine whether and to what degree infants, children, pregnant 
    women, the elderly, individuals with a history of serious illness, 
    or other subpopulations that can be identified and characterized are 
    likely to experience elevated health risks, including risks of 
    cancer, from contaminants in drinking water.

                             (2) Report

        Not later than 4 years after August 6, 1996, and periodically 
    thereafter as new and significant information becomes available, the 
    Administrator shall report to the Congress on the results of the 
    studies.

(b) Biological mechanisms

    The Administrator shall conduct biomedical studies to--
        (1) understand the mechanisms by which chemical contaminants are 
    absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated from the human 
    body, so as to develop more accurate physiologically based models of 
    the phenomena;
        (2) understand the effects of contaminants and the mechanisms by 
    which the contaminants cause adverse effects (especially noncancer 
    and infectious effects) and the variations in the effects among 
    humans, especially subpopulations at greater risk of adverse 
    effects, and between test animals and humans; and
        (3) develop new approaches to the study of complex mixtures, 
    such as mixtures found in drinking water, especially to determine 
    the prospects for synergistic or antagonistic interactions that may 
    affect the shape of the dose-response relationship of the individual 
    chemicals and microbes, and to examine noncancer endpoints and 
    infectious diseases, and susceptible individuals and subpopulations.

(c) Studies on harmful substances in drinking water

                     (1) Development of studies

        The Administrator shall, not later than 180 days after August 6, 
    1996, and after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
    Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, and, as appropriate, the 
    heads of other Federal agencies, conduct the studies described in 
    paragraph (2) to support the development and implementation of the 
    most current version of each of the following:
            (A) Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (59 Fed. Reg. 
        38832 (July 29, 1994)).
            (B) Disinfectant and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (59 Fed. 
        Reg. 38668 (July 29, 1994)).
            (C) Ground Water Disinfection Rule (availability of draft 
        summary announced at (57 Fed. Reg. 33960; July 31, 1992)).

                       (2) Contents of studies

        The studies required by paragraph (1) shall include, at a 
    minimum, each of the following:
            (A) Toxicological studies and, if warranted, epidemiological 
        studies to determine what levels of exposure from disinfectants 
        and disinfection byproducts, if any, may be associated with 
        developmental and birth defects and other potential toxic end 
        points.
            (B) Toxicological studies and, if warranted, epidemiological 
        studies to quantify the carcinogenic potential from exposure to 
        disinfection byproducts resulting from different disinfectants.
            (C) The development of dose-response curves for pathogens, 
        including cryptosporidium and the Norwalk virus.

                 (3) Authorization of appropriations

        There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
    subsection $12,500,000 for each of fiscal years 1997 through 2003.

(d) Waterborne disease occurrence study

                             (1) System

        The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
    and the Administrator shall jointly--
            (A) within 2 years after August 6, 1996, conduct pilot 
        waterborne disease occurrence studies for at least 5 major 
        United States communities or public water systems; and
            (B) within 5 years after August 6, 1996, prepare a report on 
        the findings of the pilot studies, and a national estimate of 
        waterborne disease occurrence.

                     (2) Training and education

        The Director and Administrator shall jointly establish a 
    national health care provider training and public education campaign 
    to inform both the professional health care provider community and 
    the general public about waterborne disease and the symptoms that 
    may be caused by infectious agents, including microbial 
    contaminants. In developing such a campaign, they shall seek comment 
    from interested groups and individuals, including scientists, 
    physicians, State and local governments, environmental groups, 
    public water systems, and vulnerable populations.

                             (3) Funding

        There are authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal 
    years 1997 through 2001, $3,000,000 to carry out this subsection. To 
    the extent funds under this subsection are not fully appropriated, 
    the Administrator may use not more than $2,000,000 of the funds from 
    amounts reserved under section 300j-12(n) of this title for health 
    effects studies for purposes of this subsection. The Administrator 
    may transfer a portion of such funds to the Centers for Disease 
    Control and Prevention for such purposes.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, Sec. 1458, as added Pub. L. 104-182, 
title I, Sec. 137, Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1680.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 300j-12 of this title.
