The isolation and disposal process in mass decontamination is used to:

• A. dilute the hazardous substance.
• B. disperse the hazardous substance.
• C. tag evidence.
• D. remove items that cannot be decontaminated.

Answer: (D)

In mass decontamination, the main goal is to prevent the spread of the hazardous material and protect people and the environment. The isolation and disposal step targets materials that cannot be effectively decontaminated with the available methods. By isolating these items and disposing of them properly, you prevent secondary contamination from spreading to responders, bystanders, and the surrounding area. This approach keeps the decontamination flow safe and controlled while removing a potential ongoing source of hazard.

Deliberately diluting or dispersing the substance would risk spreading contamination rather than containing it, so those options don’t achieve that safety objective. Tagging evidence isn’t the primary aim of this process, though evidence handling may occur separately. Removing non-decontaminable items from the scene and disposing of them in accordance with hazardous-waste procedures directly aligns with preventing continued exposure.