An update on the irradiated Taiwan apartment resident data was published in British Journal of Cancer a week ago by Hsieh, et al. https://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/bjc2017350a.pdf . The conclusion of this publication is similar to that of the (Hwang, 2008) publication.
The (Hsieh, 2017) publication claims increased hazard ratios for breast cancer and leukemia using LNT model based analysis of the cancer data (using 90% confidence intervals) – a conclusion that is similar to that of (Hwang, 2008) publication. However, if we examine the total number of cancers observed, and compare to expected number of cancers, estimated using age dependence of cancer rates in Taiwan cancer registry, relative risk is calculated to be 0.83 (with 95% C.I. being 0.73 to 0.94). Their use of the LNT model for analysis allows them to hide this hormetic decrease in overall cancers.
The publication also claims younger irradiated subjects (age < 20) have a higher risk of cancer but this conclusion is based on low statistics (a few cancers).
So, the misinformation campaign continues.
30 years follow-up and increased risks of breast cancer and leukaemia after long-term low-dose-rate radiation exposure