Final answer:
The further you are from the source of harm, the less radiation exposure and associated health risks you face. Materials with higher mass can serve as effective barriers to reduce radiation's penetration power. Low levels of radiation might sometimes have beneficial effects through hormesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The greater your distance from the source of harm, the less your exposure to radiation and the lower the risk of adverse health effects. Barriers such as walls can further reduce exposure by absorbing or blocking radiation, thereby making the central nervous system (CNS) less susceptible to injury. The penetration power of radiation represents its ability to pass through materials; higher mass materials generally have greater ionizing power and thus lower penetration power, serving as better protective barriers. Lower doses of radiation, while possibly still posing long-term health risks like cancer or genetic changes, may present less immediate danger and, according to some studies, could even induce beneficial effects, known as hormesis, where low levels of toxins or radiation stimulate positive biological responses.