MINUTES OF MEETING - March 6-7 
5 
Dr. Parkinson said there are aspects of medical surveillance which should 
be observed in any workplace where microbiological techniques are employed . 
Dr. Krimsky asked to what extent OSHA has been involved in the surveillance 
of this type of workplace. Dr. Parkinson responded that OSHA has not been 
involved to any great extent. Dr. Robbins pointed out that the notion of 
developing medical surveillance as part of workplace standards is relatively 
new. 
Dr. Parkinson moved that the RAC request that OSHA begin the formal process 
of promulgating regulations addressing potential hazards of microbiological 
techniques in industry, including the innovative use of recombinant ENA 
techniques. Dr. Ahmed suggested broader language be used to permit great- 
er flexibility. Dr. Parkinson accepted Dr. Ahmed's suggestion. 
Mr. Thornton expressed concern over whether the RAC can request OSHA to 
initiate a particular course of action. He suggested that a request to 
the Director, NIH would be more appropriate. Dr. Parkinson agreed, and 
amended his motion to read that the RAC recommends that the Director, 
NIH, request OSHA to begin the process of initiating possible regulations 
in the area of the industrial use of microbiological techniques. 
Noting that the RAC members had been communicating their concerns directly 
to the NIOSH and OSHA representatives present at the meeting, Dr. Baltimore 
stated that he saw no need for the motion and moved to table it. The 
motion to table was approved by a vote of fourteen in favor, five opposed, 
and one abstention. 
IV. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIAID WORKING GROUP ON RISK ASSESSMENT 
Dr. Krause said that concern had been voiced that, under exceptional 
circumstances, Escherichia coli K-12 expressing eukaryotic proteins might 
produce or induce a toxic result. He said two individuals had been select- 
ed to assist NIAID in developing a risk assessment workshop to evaluate 
this concern: Dr. Louis Sherwood, Physician in Chief and Chairman, Depart- 
ment of Medicine, Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago; and Dr. Philip Paterson, 
Chairman and Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, North- 
western University. Dr. Krause said that the conference would be held 
in Pasadena, California, on April 11 and 12, 1980. A general session 
outlining risk assessment in Escherichia coli K-12 will be followed by 
concurrent sessions dealing with (1) the hypothetical direct effects 
of active polypeptides and hormones chaired by Dr. Sherwood, and (2) 
possible autoimmune responses chaired by Dr. Paterson. Dr. Krause added 
that the meeting had been publicized and, thus far, a total of 55 people 
have registered to attend. These include three of the five members of 
the RAC Risk Assessment Subcommittee, seven non- voting members of the 
RAC, three members of the Federal Interagency Advisory Committee on 
Recombinant ENA Research, and representatives of three European nations. 
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