What type of effects does radiation exposure have on a developing fetus?

Radiation exposure during pregnancy can lead to specific impacts on the developing fetus, categorized primarily as embryological effects. These effects pertain to the developmental changes that can occur during the early stages of gestation, especially when the cells of the embryo are rapidly dividing and differentiating.

Embryological effects from radiation can include growth retardation, congenital abnormalities, and even increased risk of cancer later in life. The sensitivity of the fetus to radiation is greatest during specific periods of development, particularly in the first trimester when significant organogenesis occurs.

While physical effects may encompass various types of damage that radiation can cause, they generally do not specifically address the implications for developmental processes in an embryo. Genotypic effects relate to alterations at the genetic level, which might not directly indicate the specific outcomes that occur during the embryonic phase of development. Cognitive effects might refer to potential impacts on brain development, but again, this is a narrower category that doesn’t encompass the broader range of embryological outcomes caused by radiation exposure during critical developmental windows.