Which activity is part of long-term health monitoring after radiation exposure?

• A. Long-term cancer risk monitoring
• B. Immediate decontamination and dose assessment
• C. Exclusion zones
• D. Short-term sheltering

Answer: (A)

After radiation exposure, health monitoring spans different timeframes, and the long-term phase focuses on late effects. The key idea here is surveillance for cancer risk, because ionizing radiation can increase the likelihood of cancer years or even decades after exposure. Long-term health monitoring therefore involves ongoing medical evaluations and appropriate cancer screenings to detect cancers early and track any delayed health effects.

Immediate decontamination and dose assessment are protective actions taken to reduce exposure right away, while exclusion zones and short-term sheltering are about preventing or limiting exposure in the acute phase. They are not part of the long-term follow-up for health effects.