Which of the following statements is true of somatic effects of irradiation?

The correct statement regarding the somatic effects of irradiation is that changes are not transmitted to future generations. Somatic effects refer to the biological effects of radiation that occur in the body of the individual exposed to the radiation. These changes affect the individual's health, but they do not alter the genetic material in the reproductive cells, which means that such changes cannot be passed on to offspring.

In contrast to somatic effects, genetic effects result from mutations in the germ cells (sperm and eggs) and can potentially be inherited by future generations. Therefore, the claim that changes in somatic cells can be inherited is inaccurate, making the statement about non-transmission of changes to future generations the accurate one.

Understanding the distinction between somatic and genetic effects of irradiation is crucial in areas such as dental radiography, where practitioners must be aware of the potential risks and implications of radiation exposure.