Final answer:
A strong correlation exists between the incidence of leukemia and the radiation dose received by the bone marrow due to its rapidly dividing cells. Long-term effects of radiation such as genetic defects and cancer are known to be cumulative, and studies have documented increased cancer risk, particularly leukemia, in those exposed to significant radiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A strong correlation exists between the incidence of leukemia and the mean radiation dose received by the active bone marrow. Studies on groups exposed to high doses of radiation, such as Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors and Russian nuclear workers, have shown a clear link between radiation exposure and an increased incidence of leukemia, along with other cancers. Unlike immediate effects of radiation, the long-term effects, such as cancer and genetic defects, tend to be cumulative with little self-repair happening in the body over time.
The specific reference to the active bone marrow indicates that the question is addressing the susceptibility of rapidly dividing cells to radiation exposure. The bone marrow is a primary site for the creation of new blood cells, which makes it particularly sensitive to radiation. Damage to these cells can lead to leukemia, which is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells produced in the bone marrow.