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).