Final answer:
The statement is True; exposure to radiation can increase the risk of cancer. The risk is proportional to the dose and can be cumulative, as seen in studies with radiation-exposed populations and evidence from the study of ionizing radiation sources like radon gas and UV light.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exposure to radiation can indeed increase the risk of cancer, so the statement is True. This is supported by numerous studies on long-term effects of radiation which show that cancer and genetic defects are directly attributable to the interference of radiation with cell reproduction.
High doses of radiation are well documented to pose a serious risk of cancer, especially from historical events such as the exposure seen in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and from the Chernobyl disaster where a significant increase in thyroid cancer was observed.
Ionizing radiation, such as that from radon gas or ultraviolet radiation from the sun, is known to cause cell damage by its high energy and ability to penetrate tissues. This type of radiation can lead to skin malignancies including melanoma.
It is also known that the risk of cancer from such radiation exposure is, according to the linear hypothesis, proportional to the dose received and this risk may be cumulative with little self-repair by the body over time, much like the cumulative risk of skin cancer from UV exposure.