Are generic effects from radiation exposure usually immediately evident?

Radiation exposure typically does not produce immediate generic effects. Instead, the biological effects of radiation can manifest over time, sometimes weeks, months, or even years after exposure. This delayed response occurs because radiation can cause damage to DNA and cellular structures, leading to long-term health consequences such as cancer or genetic mutations, which may not present symptoms immediately. The acute effects of radiation, such as radiation sickness, usually result from high doses over a short period but do not encapsulate the broader, more insidious generic effects associated with lower doses of radiation exposure over time. Therefore, it is accurate to assert that immediate effects are not characteristic of generic responses to radiation.