Which factor is most closely associated with increased risk of somatic effects?

Which factor is most closely associated with increased risk of somatic effects?

• A. Dose
• B. Hair color
• C. Eye color
• D. Hand dominance

Answer: (A)

Dose determines somatic risk because the amount of energy absorbed by body tissues directly drives the chance and severity of radiation-induced damage. More dose means more cells are harmed, raising the likelihood of deterministic effects (which have thresholds and become more severe with higher dose) and increasing the probability of stochastic effects like cancer. Traits such as hair color, eye color, or hand dominance do not influence how radiation interacts with tissues, so they don’t affect somatic risk.

Dose determines somatic risk because the amount of energy absorbed by body tissues directly drives the chance and severity of radiation-induced damage. More dose means more cells are harmed, raising the likelihood of deterministic effects (which have thresholds and become more severe with higher dose) and increasing the probability of stochastic effects like cancer. Traits such as hair color, eye color, or hand dominance do not influence how radiation interacts with tissues, so they don’t affect somatic risk.