What common effect can excessive radiation exposure have on human tissues?

Excessive radiation exposure primarily leads to cell death or damage due to its ability to disrupt the normal cellular structure and function. When tissues are exposed to high levels of radiation, the ionizing radiation can break chemical bonds in DNA, leading to mutations or complete cellular destruction. This can result in various adverse effects ranging from acute radiation syndrome to long-term consequences such as cancer, tissue necrosis, or impairment of normal cellular activities.

In contrast, increased growth and enhanced immune response are typically not associated with excessive radiation exposure. While some degree of cellular repair occurs in response to low levels of radiation damage, the overall impact of excessive radiation is overwhelmingly detrimental, leading to cell death rather than repair or enhancement of function. Cellular repair mechanisms might mitigate some damage, but at high exposure levels, these systems become overwhelmed, leading to more significant tissue harm.