Which radiation-related term best describes the effects that accumulate over time leading to severe consequences?

The term that best describes the effects that accumulate over time leading to severe consequences is "deterministic effects." Deterministic effects are those biological effects of radiation exposure that have a threshold dose, meaning that these effects only occur after a certain level of damage has been reached. The severity of these effects increases with the dose of radiation received, and they often manifest after a certain period of time following the exposure.

For example, deterministic effects include radiation burns, skin damage, and radiation sickness, which become more severe as doses increase beyond a certain threshold. This means that if someone is exposed to high levels of radiation over time without appropriate limits, they may experience these severe consequences.

Understanding deterministic effects is crucial in radiation safety because it emphasizes the importance of limiting exposure to prevent serious health outcomes. In contrast, other types of effects, such as stochastic effects, do not have a threshold and occur by chance with an increased risk proportional to the dose, which is a different concept. Thus, deterministic effects are particularly pertinent to discussions about cumulative radiation exposure and its serious implications.