Somatic effects are observed in which of the following?

Somatic effects are observed in which of the following?

• A. The irradiated person
• B. Future generations
• C. The environment around the irradiated person
• D. Non-irradiated organisms

Answer: (A)

Somatic effects are changes that occur in the body of the person who has been irradiated. These are damage to the individual's somatic cells and tissues and can appear soon after exposure or years later, such as skin reddening, nausea, or an increased risk of cancer. They are not passed to future generations—that would be genetic or heritable effects in offspring. They also aren’t effects seen in the environment around the irradiated person or in organisms that were not exposed. So, the effects are observed in the irradiated person.

Somatic effects are changes that occur in the body of the person who has been irradiated. These are damage to the individual's somatic cells and tissues and can appear soon after exposure or years later, such as skin reddening, nausea, or an increased risk of cancer. They are not passed to future generations—that would be genetic or heritable effects in offspring. They also aren’t effects seen in the environment around the irradiated person or in organisms that were not exposed. So, the effects are observed in the irradiated person.