Somatic effects may take what to become evident?

• A. Minutes
• B. Hours
• C. Years
• D. Seconds

Answer: (C)

Radiation-induced somatic effects often have a long latent period before they become evident. While very high doses can produce acute symptoms within minutes to hours, many somatic outcomes—such as cancer or cataracts—develop years after exposure. That long delay is the hallmark of somatic effects in this context, so years is the best answer. Minutes, hours, and seconds describe immediate or acute effects, which don’t capture the typical delay associated with somatic outcomes.