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  • China: The cancer mortality rate was lower in the high-background group, but this difference was statistically significant only in the 40- to 70-y age group (i.e., those who had the greatest lifelong exposure to high background levels of radiation)

  • India: inverse correlation between background radiation levels and cancer incidence and mortality

The LNT hypothesis has been adopted by every national and international body that offers radiation protection recommendations or interprets scientific data.

 

These include, but are not limited to, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) Committees, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).

  • China: The cancer mortality rate was lower in the high-background group, but this difference was statistically significant only in the 40- to 70-y age group (i.e., those who had the greatest lifelong exposure to high background levels of radiation)

  • India: inverse correlation between background radiation levels and cancer incidence and mortality

The LNT hypothesis has been adopted by every national and international body that offers radiation protection recommendations or interprets scientific data.

 

These include, but are not limited to, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) Committees, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).

  • China: The cancer mortality rate was lower in the high-background group, but this difference was statistically significant only in the 40- to 70-y age group (i.e., those who had the greatest lifelong exposure to high background levels of radiation)

  • India: inverse correlation between background radiation levels and cancer incidence and mortality

  • Cosmic radiation at high altitudes: The cancer death rate was lower in the high-altitude group.

The LNT hypothesis has been adopted by every national and international body that offers radiation protection recommendations or interprets scientific data.

These include, but are not limited to, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) Committees, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).

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Oliver_C
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Explanation for Radiation Hormesis:

Because the protective and reparative mechanisms are working at a higher level than they would in the absence of radiation exposure, mutations (both those caused by radiation and those that occur spontaneously) are found and repaired or destroyed. Thus, the whole-organism response to low-level radiation exposure in the radiation hormesis paradigm is a state of improved health when compared with that in the absence of radiation exposure.

Examples of Epidemiological Studies:

Examples of Epidemiological Studies:

Explanation for Radiation Hormesis:

Because the protective and reparative mechanisms are working at a higher level than they would in the absence of radiation exposure, mutations (both those caused by radiation and those that occur spontaneously) are found and repaired or destroyed. Thus, the whole-organism response to low-level radiation exposure in the radiation hormesis paradigm is a state of improved health when compared with that in the absence of radiation exposure.

Examples of Epidemiological Studies:

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Oliver_C
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Ann Coulter's piece does cites sources and she has some valid points, but she also clearly has a bias. She even downplays Chernobyl, making it sound like there were no deaths due to radiation (she acknowledges 30 deaths, but blames it on the explosion).

What is Radiation Hormesis? (Source)

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The linear no-threshold (LNT) hypothesis basically says:

Radiation exposure is harmful at all exposure levels

The Threshold model implies:

no effects of radiation up to certain level

The Hormetic model shows

beneficial effects at low levels of exposure as it drops below ZEP (Zero-Equivalent Point)

Examples of Epidemiological Studies:

  • China: The cancer mortality rate was lower in the high-background group, but this difference was statistically significant only in the 40- to 70-y age group (i.e., those who had the greatest lifelong exposure to high background levels of radiation)

  • India: inverse correlation between background radiation levels and cancer incidence and mortality

Examples of Experimental Studies:

But Radiation Hormesis remains a controversial subject.

According to this (2001):

The LNT hypothesis has been adopted by every national and international body that offers radiation protection recommendations or interprets scientific data.

These include, but are not limited to, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) Committees, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).

But The U.S. Department of Energy has a Low Dose Radiation Research Program

[The] Program has been studying the biological effects of very low doses of ionizing radiation in relevant experimental systems for a decade. Program research has contributed significantly to the body of scientific understanding needed to inform public debate and future regulatory decision making.

which some proponents of Radiation Hormesis view as a "first step" toward acceptance of this hypothesis.