Which term describes effects that show up in the person exposed to radiation?

Which term describes effects that show up in the person exposed to radiation?

• A. Genetic effects
• B. Acute effects
• C. Somatic effects
• D. Chronic effects

Answer: (C)

Somatic effects are effects that show up in the body of the person who received the radiation. They occur in the irradiated individual and can include skin changes, radiation sickness after high doses, cataracts, and an increased cancer risk later in life. Genetic effects would appear in the person’s offspring, not in the exposed person. Acute effects are the immediate or short-term consequences after exposure, while chronic effects develop years later from long-term or lower-dose exposure. So the term that describes effects appearing in the person exposed is somatic effects.

Somatic effects are effects that show up in the body of the person who received the radiation. They occur in the irradiated individual and can include skin changes, radiation sickness after high doses, cataracts, and an increased cancer risk later in life. Genetic effects would appear in the person’s offspring, not in the exposed person. Acute effects are the immediate or short-term consequences after exposure, while chronic effects develop years later from long-term or lower-dose exposure. So the term that describes effects appearing in the person exposed is somatic effects.