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The use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate or destroy microorganisms on a surface or item so there are no infectious organisms and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.
Decontamination (sometimes abbreviated as decon, dcon, or decontam) is the process of removing contaminants on an object or area, including chemicals, micro-organisms, and/or radioactive substances. This may be achieved by chemical reaction, disinfection, and/or physical removal. It refers to specific action taken to reduce the hazard posed by such contaminants, as opposed to general cleaning.
Decontamination is most commonly used in medical environments, including dentistry, surgery, and veterinary science, in the process of food preparation, in environmental science, and in forensic science.
English
Etymology
From de- + contamination.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /diːkənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən/
- Rhymes: -eɪʃən
Noun
decontamination (plural decontaminations)
- The process of removing contamination, particularly the cleaning off of dangerous materials.
Derived terms
Related terms
- contamination
- decontaminate