decontamination
n.the process of cleaning something to remove dangerous germs, chemicals, or radioactive materials. You often hear this word in hospitals or after a chemical accident.
n.the process of removing or neutralising contaminants, such as biological agents, chemicals, or radioactive substances, from a surface or environment.
“The hospital staff performed a full decontamination of the emergency room.”
“After the chemical spill, the entire factory floor underwent a rigorous decontamination process to ensure worker safety.”
“Effective decontamination requires not only the physical removal of hazardous materials but also the neutralisation of any residual toxins that might remain in the soil or air.”
From de- + contamination.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.