title: Fifteen years after the Gozan-Dong glass fiber outbreak, Incheon in 1995.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Soo Hun
authors: SH
authors: Cho
authors: Joohon
authors: J
authors: Sung
authors: Jonghoon
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Young Su
authors: YS
authors: Ju
authors: Minji
authors: M
authors: Han
authors: Kyu Won
authors: KW
authors: Jung
mesh_terms: D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D012042:Registries; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; C009753:fiberglass