Non-stochastic effects example?

• A. Cataracts
• B. Leukemia
• C. Genetic mutation
• D. Tumor formation

Answer: (A)

Non-stochastic (deterministic) effects have a threshold dose, and their severity grows with the amount of radiation received. Cataracts fit this pattern because the lens of the eye typically must receive a certain minimum dose before opacities develop, and as the dose to the lens increases beyond that threshold, both the probability and the severity of cataract formation rise. These effects often appear after a delay of months to years, which is another characteristic of deterministic effects.

In contrast, the other potential outcomes listed are considered stochastic. They can occur with any exposure level, with the chance of occurrence increasing as the dose rises, but there isn’t a practical threshold that guarantees them or directly links dose to how severe they will be.