Radiation Safety Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT an effect of acute radiation exposure?

1. Skin burns

2. Nausea

3. Hair loss

4. Cancer development

The correct answer is: Cancer development

Acute radiation exposure refers to receiving a large dose of radiation in a short period, which can lead to immediate and severe biological effects. The effects of acute radiation exposure are often quite dramatic and include conditions such as skin burns, nausea, and hair loss, all of which are direct responses to high levels of radiation affecting the body's tissues. Skin burns can occur when radiation damages the skin cells, leading to symptoms similar to thermal burns. Nausea typically arises due to the effects of radiation on the gastrointestinal system, which is highly sensitive to radiation. Hair loss, or epilation, can result from the destruction of the rapidly dividing hair follicle cells in response to radiation damage. In contrast, cancer development is generally associated with chronic exposure to radiation or lower doses of radiation over an extended period. It is not an immediate effect of acute radiation exposure but rather a long-term consequence that may result from the cumulative damage to DNA that could lead to mutations and cancer proliferation over time. Therefore, cancer development does not belong to the category of immediate effects seen in cases of acute radiation exposure.