Decontamination

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-007463",
  "term": "Decontamination",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Removal of harmful substances such as noxious chemicals, harmful bacteria or other organisms, or radioactive material from exposed individuals, rooms and furnishings in buildings, or the exterior environment.\n\n2. The reduction or removal of contaminated radioactive material from a structure, object or person.\n\n3. Removal of harmful substances such as noxious chemicals, harmful bacteria or other organisms, or radioactive material from exposed individuals, rooms and furnishings in buildings, or the exterior environment. [EPA 2005b, RAIS 2004]\n\n4. The reduction or removal of a chemical, biological, or radiological material from the surface of a structure, area, object, or person. [MERREA 2005]\n\n5. Decontamination is the removal of hazardous substances from employees and their equipment to the extent necessary to preclude the dissemination of hazardous substances outside of the exclusion zone and to reduce the chance that individuals may be exposed.\n\n6. The process of inactivating or reducing a contaminant in or on buildings, humans, animals, plants, food, water, soil, air, areas, or other items through physical, chemical, or other methods to meet a cleanup goal (EPA, DHS, November 2008).\n\n7. The use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.",
  "subject": "General environmental",
  "references": [
    "Terms of Environment; EPA 2005b, RAIS 2004",
    "Radiation Protection Radiation Glossary",
    "Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment",
    "EPA Emergency Responder Health and Safety Manual - Chapter 1: Site-Specific Health and Safety Plan (HASP) Development",
    "EPA Emergency Responder Health and Safety Manual - Chapter 11: Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/decontamination/"
}