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Decontamination (sometimes abbreviated as decon, dcon, or decontam) is the process of removing contaminants on an object or area, including chemicals, micro-organisms or radioactive substances. This may be achieved by chemical reaction, disinfection 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,^[1] and in forensic science.^[2]

Methods

Methods of decontamination include:^[3]

A variety of decontaminant methods may be used, including physical processes such as distillation, and chemical washes such as alcohols and detergents.

References

^ ""Water Decontamination", in McGraw Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology 2004, p 372" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
^ Jehaes, Els; Gilissen, Anja; Cassiman, Jean-Jacques; Decorte, Ronny (1998). "Evaluation of a decontamination protocol for hair shafts before mtDNA sequencing". Forensic Science International. 94 (1–2): 65–71. doi:10.1016/S0379-0738(98)00052-8. PMID 9670485.
^ Health & Safety Executive: Methods of decontamination. Accessed 16 August 2013

This technology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This health-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] ""Water Decontamination", in McGraw Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology 2004, p 372" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2013-08-16.

[2] Jehaes, Els; Gilissen, Anja; Cassiman, Jean-Jacques; Decorte, Ronny (1998). "Evaluation of a decontamination protocol for hair shafts before mtDNA sequencing". Forensic Science International. 94 (1–2): 65–71. doi:10.1016/S0379-0738(98)00052-8. PMID 9670485.

[3] Health & Safety Executive: Methods of decontamination. Accessed 16 August 2013

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+{{Short description|Process of removing or neutralising harmful substances}}
-'''Decontamination''' (sometimes abbreviated as '''decon''', '''dcon''', or '''decontam''') is the process of cleansing an object or substance to remove [[contamination|contaminant]]s such as micro-organisms or [[dangerous goods|hazardous materials]], including chemicals, [[radioactive contamination|radioactive substances]], and [[infectious disease]]s.
+{{For-text|DECON|[[Nuclear decommissioning]]}}
+'''Decontamination''' (sometimes abbreviated as '''decon''', '''dcon''', or '''decontam''') is the process of removing [[contamination|contaminant]]s on an object or area, including chemicals, micro-organisms or [[radioactive contamination|radioactive substances]]. This may be achieved by [[chemical reaction]], [[Disinfectant|disinfection]] 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]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2004/fpl_2004_rowell002.pdf |title="Water Decontamination", in ''McGraw Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology 2004'', p 372 |access-date=2013-08-16 |archive-date=2020-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109050430/https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2004/fpl_2004_rowell002.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in [[forensic science]].<ref>{{cite journal| doi=10.1016/S0379-0738(98)00052-8 | pmid=9670485 | volume=94 | issue=1–2 | title=Evaluation of a decontamination protocol for hair shafts before mtDNA sequencing | year=1998 | journal=Forensic Science International | pages=65–71 | last1 = Jehaes | first1 = Els | last2 = Gilissen | first2 = Anja | last3 = Cassiman | first3 = Jean-Jacques | last4 = Decorte | first4 = Ronny}}</ref>
-The purpose of decontamination is to prevent the spread of micro-organisms and other noxious contaminants<ref>
-Then the failed attempt of decontamination result in the next step which is known as discontamination which involves much stronger chemicals to eradicate the contamination. [http://www.rcht.nhs.uk/DocumentsLibrary/RoyalCornwallHospitalsTrust/Clinical/InfectionPreventionAndControl/DecontaminationPolicy.pdf Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust: Decontamination Policy April 2012]. Accessed 16 August 2013</ref> 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]],<ref>[http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2004/fpl_2004_rowell002.pdf "Water Decontamination", in ''McGraw Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology 2004'', p 372]</ref> and in [[forensic science]].<ref>{{cite journal| doi=10.1016/S0379-0738(98)00052-8 | pmid=9670485 | volume=94 | issue=1–2 | title=Evaluation of a decontamination protocol for hair shafts before mtDNA sequencing | year=1998 | journal=Forensic Science International | pages=65–71 | last1 = Jehaes | first1 = Els | last2 = Gilissen | first2 = Anja | last3 = Cassiman | first3 = Jean-Jacques | last4 = Decorte | first4 = Ronny}}</ref>
 ==Methods==
 Methods of decontamination include:<ref>[http://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/blood-borne-viruses/methods-of-decontamination.htm Health & Safety Executive: Methods of decontamination]. Accessed 16 August 2013</ref>
-*Physical cleaning
+* Physical cleaning
-*[[Water purification]]
+* [[Water purification]]
-*[[Ultrasonic cleaning]]
+* [[Ultrasonic cleaning]]
-*[[Disinfection]]
+* [[Disinfection]]
-*[[Antisepsis]]
+* [[Antisepsis]]
-*[[sterilization (microbiology)|Sterilization]]
+* [[sterilization (microbiology)|Sterilization]]
-A variety of decontaminant methods may be used, including physical processes such as [[distillation]], and chemical washes such as [[alcohol]]s and [[detergent]]s.
+A variety of decontaminant methods may be used, including physical processes such as [[distillation]], and chemical washes such as [[Alcohol (chemistry)|alcohol]]s and [[detergent]]s.
-==See also==
+== See also ==
-*[[Human decontamination]]
+* [[Human decontamination]]
-*[[Soil decontamination]]
+* [[Soil decontamination]]
-*[[Groundwater decontamination]]
+* [[Groundwater decontamination]]
-*[[Environmental remediation]]
+* [[Environmental remediation]]
-*[[Dry decontamination]]
+* [[Dry decontamination]]
+* [[Decontamination foam]]
-*[[Air decontamination]]
 ==References==
-{{reflist|30em}}
+{{Reflist|30em}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Hygiene]]
+{{technology-stub}}
+{{health-stub}}

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