J Prev Med Public Health.  2011 Jul;44(4):185-189. 10.3961/jpmph.2011.44.4.185.

Fifteen Years After the Gozan-Dong Glass Fiber Outbreak, Incheon in 1995

• Cho SH
• Sung J
• Kim J
• Ju YS
• Han M
• Jung KW

• KMID: 1018398
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2011.44.4.185

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
In 1995, an outbreak survey in Gozan-dong concluded that an association between fiberglass exposure in drinking water and cancer outbreak cannot be established. This study follows the subjects from a study in 1995 using a data linkage method to examine whether an association existed. The authors will address the potential benefits and methodological issues following outbreak surveys using data linkage, particularly when informed consent is absent.
METHODS
This is a follow-up study of 697 (30 exposed) individuals out of the original 888 (31 exposed) participants (78.5%) from 1995 to 2007 assessing the cancer outcomes and deaths of these individuals. The National Cancer Registry (KNCR) and death certificate data were linked using the ID numbers of the participants. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) from cancers were calculated by the KNCR.
RESULTS
The SIR values for all cancer or gastrointestinal cancer (GI) occurrences were the lowest in the exposed group (SIR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.10 to 5.21; 0.00 for GI), while the two control groups (control 1: external, control 2: internal) showed slight increases in their SIR values (SIR, 1.18 and 1.27 for all cancers; 1.62 and 1.46 for GI). All lacked statistical significance. All-cause mortality levels for the three groups showed the same pattern (SMR 0.37, 1.29, and 1.11).
CONCLUSIONS
This study did not refute a finding of non-association with a 13-year follow-up. Considering that many outbreak surveys are associated with a small sample size and a cross-sectional design, follow-up studies that utilize data linkage should become standard procedure.

Keyword

Glass fiber; Standardized incidence ratio (SIR); Standardized mortality ratio (SMR); Outbreak investigation; Data linkage

MeSH Terms

Drinking Water/chemistry
Environmental Exposure/*adverse effects
Female
Follow-Up Studies
*Glass
Humans
Incidence
Male
Neoplasms/epidemiology/etiology/*mortality
Registries
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors
Time Factors