Decontamination (sometimes abbreviated as decon, dcon, or decontam) is the process of cleansing an object or substance to remove contaminants such as micro-organisms or hazardous materials, including chemicals, radioactive substances, and infectious diseases.
The purpose of decontamination is to prevent the spread of micro-organisms and other noxious contaminants that may threaten the health of human beings or animals, or damage the environment.
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.
Methods
Methods of decontamination include:
- Physical cleaning
- Water purification
- Ultrasonic cleaning
- Disinfection
- Antisepsis
- Sterilization
A variety of decontaminant methods may be used, including physical processes such as distillation, and chemical washes such as alcohols and detergents.
See also
- Human decontamination
- Soil decontamination
- Groundwater decontamination
- Environmental remediation
- Dry decontamination
References
