What is another term for tissue reactions to radiation?

The correct answer for the term that refers to tissue reactions to radiation is non-stochastic effects. Non-stochastic effects, or deterministic effects, are those that have a threshold below which the effect does not occur, and above which the severity of the effect increases with the dose of radiation. These effects generally exhibit clear and identifiable tissue reactions, such as skin burns or radiation sickness, which become more pronounced as the exposure increases.

In contrast, stochastic effects are related to the probability of occurrence rather than the severity of the effect; they do not have a threshold and can occur at any dose. This means that if someone is exposed to a certain amount of radiation, the chances of developing cancer, for instance, might increase, but the severity of that cancer is not determined by the dose. Acute effects refer specifically to symptoms that appear shortly after exposure to high levels of radiation and do not encompass the broader category of tissue reactions that occur at various doses.

Understanding these distinctions is critical in the field of radiology and radiation safety, as it helps professionals to assess risks and manage exposure appropriately.