According to the Threshold Hypothesis, what is required to produce negative health risks?

The Threshold Hypothesis posits that there is a specific level of exposure to a harmful agent, such as radiation, below which no negative health effects occur. This means that for health risks to manifest, an individual must receive at least a minimum dose of radiation. This concept is particularly important in radiation safety as it helps in setting permissible exposure levels and guidelines.

Understanding the threshold implies that minimal radiation exposure may not produce adverse health effects, and therefore, efforts in radiation safety focus on ensuring exposure stays below these thresholds to protect health. In contrast, any exposure or the absence of exposure would not align with the hypothesis, and the idea of needing multiple doses suggests a cumulative effect that is not required according to this specific theory. The key point lies in recognizing that there is a baseline exposure needed for health risks to begin to appear, which is what makes the assertion of a minimum level of exposure being necessary, correct.