decontaminate
Cleanse of pollutants
To decontaminate is to remove harmful substances—radioactive material, chemical agents, biological hazards—from a person, place, or object.
Workers decontaminate a site after a chemical spill; soldiers decontaminate after exposure to nerve agents.
The term implies systematic cleaning to make something safe again: The cleanup crew decontaminated the lab before anyone could reenter.
Emitting nuclear decay particles
- biohazardDangerous living organism risk
- chemicalSubstance with defined composition
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- hazmatToxic materials needing precautions
spill · exposure · fallout · nuclear · biological · leak · residue · waste
Chemical stain and germ killer
- chlorineHalogen disinfectant element
- alcoholIntoxicating hydroxyl compound
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- detergentChemical cleaning agent
solvent · soap · surfactant · iodine · neutralizer · degreaser · oxidizer · zeolite
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
- scrubberPollution removal device
- gloveboxDashboard storage nook
- respiratorBreathing protection device
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
goggles · mask · dosimeter · spectrometer
Medical treatment facility
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
- cleanroomParticle-free manufacturing space
- operating-roomSurgical suite in hospitals
- pharmacyMedicinal dispensary
scrub
Clean by rubbing hard
wipe · soak · flush · shower · hose · immerse · swab · abrade · vacuum · dry
radioactive
Emitting nuclear decay particles
- biohazardDangerous living organism risk
- chemicalSubstance with defined composition
- toxicCapable of causing harm
hazmat · spill · exposure · fallout · nuclear · biological · leak · residue · waste · cleanup
bleach
Chemical stain and germ killer
- chlorineHalogen disinfectant element
- alcoholIntoxicating hydroxyl compound
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
detergent · solvent · soap · surfactant · iodine · neutralizer · degreaser · oxidizer · zeolite · resin
autoclave
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
- scrubberPollution removal device
- gloveboxDashboard storage nook
- respiratorBreathing protection device
gloves · goggles · mask · dosimeter · spectrometer
hospital
Medical treatment facility
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
- cleanroomParticle-free manufacturing space
- operating-roomSurgical suite in hospitals
pharmacy · battlefield · spacecraft · morgue
- cleaningcleaning, clean, housekeeping, clean up, daily cleaning
- sanitationsewage, sewers, cleaning, sewer, disinfecting
- removalremove, elimination, delete, erasing, erase
decontaminated, decontamination, decontaminant, decontaminating, decontaminates, decontaminants, decontaminator, decontaminators