What health effect can radiation exposure potentially cause besides immediate physical injury?

Radiation exposure can potentially lead to long-term mutations or cancer due to the way it affects cellular structures, particularly DNA. When radiation passes through the body, it can ionize atoms and molecules, leading to alterations in the genetic material of cells. This alteration can disrupt normal cell function and may cause cells to replicate uncontrollably, which is the underlying mechanism for cancer development.

The effects of radiation may not manifest immediately; instead, they can take years or even decades to appear as a result of cumulative exposure. This characteristic differentiates radiation's potential health impacts from immediate physical injuries, making long-term mutations and cancer significant concerns for anyone exposed to radiation, whether in high doses or chronic low-level exposure.

Other options, while they may pertain to health effects, do not have a direct relationship with radiation exposure in the same manner. For example, headaches from noise are unrelated to radiation; severe allergic reactions are typically linked to immune responses; and increased physical strength does not apply to the biological effects of radiation. Thus, the only viable health consequence from radiation exposure among the choices is the potential for long-term mutations or cancer.