contaminating
Introducing harmful substances
Contaminating is making something impure by introducing unwanted or harmful substances.
Water becomes contaminated when pollutants enter it; food when bacteria spreads to it.
The term extends beyond physical substances: contaminating the jury pool, contaminating the data.
Evidence is contaminated when mishandled.
A contaminating influence corrupts what it touches.
Substance degrading another's quality
- adulterantImpurity added intentionally
- taintMake impure
- residueMatter left behind
- dilutionReduction in concentration
counterfeit · mislabeling · additive · filler · substitute · tampering · fraud · purity
Substances released into air
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- runoffExcess water drainage
- sewageLiquid refuse in drains
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
waste · smog · exhaust · pesticides · fertilizers · groundwater · waterway · leachate
Disease-causing microorganism
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
- germDisease-causing microorganism
contagion · transmission · spread · outbreak · foodborne · salmonella · listeria · norovirus
Capable of causing death
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- radioactiveEmitting nuclear decay particles
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- neurotoxicDamaging to nervous system
hazardous · lethal · teratogenic · bioaccumulation · dioxin · lead · mercury · arsenic
Causing moral decay
- taintingPolluting or corrupting
- compromisingExposing to harm or scandal
- influencingAltering someone's thinking
- underminingWeakening by covert means
skewing · biasing · tampering · falsifying · manipulating · evidence · sample · data
impurity
Substance degrading another's quality
- adulterantImpurity added intentionally
- taintMake impure
- residueMatter left behind
dilution · counterfeit · mislabeling · additive · filler · substitute · tampering · fraud · purity · unapproved
emissions
Substances released into air
discharge · waste · smog · exhaust · pesticides · fertilizers · groundwater · waterway · leachate · industrial
pathogen
Disease-causing microorganism
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
germ · contagion · transmission · spread · outbreak · foodborne · salmonella · listeria · norovirus · spoilage
poisonous
Capable of causing death
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- radioactiveEmitting nuclear decay particles
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
neurotoxic · hazardous · lethal · teratogenic · bioaccumulation · dioxin · lead · mercury · arsenic · asbestos
corrupting
Causing moral decay
- taintingPolluting or corrupting
- compromisingExposing to harm or scandal
- influencingAltering someone's thinking
undermining · skewing · biasing · tampering · falsifying · manipulating · evidence · sample · data · jury
contaminatingpurifying
Removing unwanted substances
cleansing · decontaminating · cleaning · decontaminate · sanitizing
contaminatingdisinfecting
Killing bacteria and viruses
sterilizing · decontaminating · protecting · safeguarding · noninfectious
- bacterial contaminationHarmful microbes present
- oil contaminationHarmful petroleum in environment
- lead contaminationToxic heavy metal presence
- water contaminationHarmful substances in drinking supply
- cross contaminationTransfer of harmful substances
- nuclear contaminationHazardous atomic material spread