Decontamination

The reduction or removal of contaminating radioactive material from a structure, area, object, or person. Decontamination may be accomplished by (1) treating the surface to remove or decrease the contamination, (2) letting the material stand so that the radioactivity is decreased as a result of natural radioactive decay, or (3) covering the contamination to shield or attenuate the radiation emitted (see 10 CFR 20.1003 and 20.1402).

Removal of unwanted radioactive or hazardous contamination by a chemical or mechanical process.