Final answer:
Deterministic effects, such as radiation sickness, have a direct correlation with the dose and typically require exceeding a threshold before they manifest, unlike stochastic effects like cancer. Hormesis describes potentially beneficial responses to low levels of exposure. In pharmacokinetics, establishing safe threshold doses is crucial for medication safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors that are Deterministic or Non-Stochastic in nature are those for which a threshold dose must first be surpassed before an effect occurs. An example of a deterministic effect associated with a threshold dose is radiation sickness, which typically does not manifest unless the exposure level exceeds a certain threshold. Unlike stochastic effects, such as cancer or genetic defects, deterministic effects have a direct correlation to the dose: the greater the dose above the threshold, the more severe the outcome.
The concept of hormesis is relevant when discussing low-dose exposures. Hormesis suggests that at low exposure levels, organisms might actually experience a beneficial response, thereby triggering adaptive or repair mechanisms. However, once the dose exceeds a specific threshold, it becomes harmful.
Within the realm of pharmacokinetics, substances are rigorously tested to establish their safety and efficacy. With medications, this would involve establishing a dosage below which no therapeutic effect is observed (threshold) and above which adverse effects occur.