How does age impact sensitivity to deterministic effects from radiation?

Younger individuals are more sensitive to deterministic effects from radiation primarily due to the presence of rapidly dividing cells in their bodies. In developmental stages, such as childhood and adolescence, the body is undergoing significant growth and development, which involves a high rate of cell division. This rapid proliferation means that cells are more susceptible to radiation damage because when cells divide, the mechanisms repairing DNA damage are more actively engaged, making them more vulnerable to errors and dysfunction caused by radiation exposure.

Deterministic effects, which can include skin burns or organ damage, are closely linked to the amount of radiation exposure and the biological response of the cells involved. Since younger tissues contain a higher proportion of actively dividing cells, they have an increased risk of expressing these deterministic effects when exposed to radiation. This sensitivity decreases with age as cell division rates diminish and the body’s tissues mature, which contributes to an overall increase in resilience to radiation effects in older individuals.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the known biological responses to radiation. For instance, while older individuals may indeed experience various forms of cellular aging, this does not directly translate to decreased sensitivity to deterministic effects. Instead, age often correlates with increased sensitivity due to factors such as reduced cellular repair mechanisms and the cumulative effects of