What type of biological effects can radiation exposure cause?

Radiation exposure can lead to various biological effects categorized primarily into somatic effects and genetic effects. Somatic effects are those that affect the individual who is exposed to radiation, manifesting in various health issues such as cancer, radiation sickness, and other bodily impairments that develop as a direct result of radiation exposure. These effects can appear shortly after exposure (acute) or develop over a much longer time frame (chronic).

On the other hand, genetic effects refer to changes in genetic material that can occur due to radiation exposure. These changes may not affect the individual directly but can be passed on to subsequent generations, leading to hereditary diseases or mutations.

The chosen option encompasses the broad spectrum of impacts that radiation can have on living organisms, making it the most accurate description of the biological effects of radiation exposure. Other options, while they each contain some relevant concepts related to radiation effects, do not encapsulate the comprehensive understanding of somatic and genetic effects that are fundamental in radiological safety and health.