What characterizes deterministic effects of radiation?

Deterministic effects of radiation are characterized by an increase in severity with dose. This means that as the radiation dose increases, the likelihood and intensity of the resulting biological effects also grow. Typically, deterministic effects manifest after a certain threshold dose has been reached. For instance, skin burns and radiation sickness are examples of such effects where higher exposures result in more pronounced symptoms.

In contrast, deterministic effects are not dependent on other factors outside of the dose received, which sets them apart from stochastic effects, which involve random occurrences such as cancer that may develop after long periods regardless of dose until certain thresholds are surpassed. Factors such as long-term exposure or generational effects do not classify as deterministic since they fall under different categories of radiation effects, such as stochastic effects or genetic impacts.