What is the purpose of using isolation and disposal in mass decontamination?

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

Answer: (D)

The main idea is rapidly reducing what can spread to others by separating and removing items that can’t be cleaned. In mass decontamination, isolating and disposing of non-decontaminable items stops them from continuing to contaminate people or surfaces and ensures those items are handled as hazardous waste. This keeps the decontamination flow focused on cleaning what can be cleaned while safely removing what cannot be cleaned.

Diluting or dispersing the substance would spread contamination rather than remove it, and tagging evidence isn’t the goal of decontamination. Removing and disposing of items that can’t be decontaminated is the appropriate, safety‑focused approach.