Stochastic effects are characterized by which property?

Stochastic effects are characterized by which property?

• A. No threshold; probability increases with dose
• B. A threshold exists and severity increases with dose
• C. They are deterministic
• D. They are not influenced by dose

Answer: (A)

Stochastic effects are characterized by a probabilistic outcome with no radiation dose threshold. The chance that an effect such as cancer or a genetic change occurs increases as the dose goes up, but the severity of the effect, if it happens, does not depend on how large the dose was. This distinguishes them from deterministic effects, which have a threshold and become more severe with higher dose. The statements that describe a threshold and increasing severity, or that treat effects as deterministic or not influenced by dose, don’t fit the stochastic pattern.

Stochastic effects are characterized by a probabilistic outcome with no radiation dose threshold. The chance that an effect such as cancer or a genetic change occurs increases as the dose goes up, but the severity of the effect, if it happens, does not depend on how large the dose was. This distinguishes them from deterministic effects, which have a threshold and become more severe with higher dose. The statements that describe a threshold and increasing severity, or that treat effects as deterministic or not influenced by dose, don’t fit the stochastic pattern.