Final answer:
Exposure to irradiation in utero can result in spontaneous abortion, congenital anomalies, and an increased risk of childhood malignancies due to the vulnerability of rapidly dividing embryonic cells to radiation damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exposure to irradiation during pregnancy can lead to several adverse outcomes. When a fetus is exposed to radiation in utero, the rapidly dividing cells are particularly vulnerable, which can result in a range of possible responses:
- Spontaneous abortion may occur, especially if irradiation happens at an early stage of pregnancy.
- Congenital anomalies can develop because radiation can cause mutations in embryonic cells that proliferate, leading to defects that affect various tissues and organs.
- Childhood malignancies are a concern, as radiation can damage DNA in the developing fetus, increasing the lifetime risk of cancer, particularly if exposure occurs during critical periods of development.
Deleterious effects of irradiation may range from mild, such as temporary reductions in white blood cell count, to severe, including potential lifelong genetic defects. However, the correlation between irradiation and an increased incidence of genetic defects in humans is poorly understood, with evidence of such effects being difficult to obtain.