What are acute effects?

• A. Skin lesions and cancer
• B. Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
• C. Chronic organ damage
• D. Hair loss

Answer: (B)

Acute effects are the immediate, short-term reactions that occur soon after exposure to a toxic substance, typically within minutes to hours. Vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea illustrate this quick, GI-system response to an irritant or toxin, as the body rapidly signals distress and tries to expel or deal with the irritant. The other options describe effects that develop over longer periods or aren’t the immediate reflexive reactions typical of acute exposure: skin lesions and cancer point to long-term changes, chronic organ damage reflects lasting injury over time, and hair loss is usually a delayed consequence of stress or toxicity rather than an immediate reaction.