Question

Define contamination?

Answer 1

Hint:- Presence of impurity or any unwanted material which affects the physical body, workplace, environment or any experimental procedure negatively is called contamination. The word “contamination” can take a wide range of subtle differences in meaning , depending on the nature of the nature of the contaminant as well as the environment they are found in. Let us know more about contamination.

Complete Answer:-
As said above, contamination can take a variety of meaning with subtle differences. Let us look at the various types of contamination-
Chemical contamination- A single constituent or a mixture of chemicals (in specialised fields) can lead to contamination. There is some level of impurity in almost each chemical and sometimes, the impurity or contamination may go un-notices. The problem arises when these unwanted constituents lead to undesired additional chemical reactions. If the resulting chemical reactions are detrimental, terms such as “toxin”, “pollutant”, or “poison” are used, based on the molecules involved. Neutralization, physical processes, and decomposition are some of the ways for chemical decontamination. A clear understanding of the chemistry is required.
Biological contamination- Unwanted interference or presence of biological entities, mostly microbes which negatively affect the experimental motive or deteriorate the quality of food is called biological contamination. Bacteria are the most common type of biological contaminant. When present in food, they cause food spoilage and food poisoning. Utmost care and precautions should be followed so as to contain the contamination at a minimal level to obtain the desired results during experimental procedures. Good laboratory practices and proper implementation of aseptic techniques are some of the ways to ensure that the work environment is contamination free.
Environmental contamination- An environmental contaminant can be chemical, biological or physical in nature. Environmental contamination is commonly known as pollution. The effect is manifested in the harm done to organisms, humans, or environments as a whole.
Radioactive contamination- Undesirable or unintended presence of radioactive substances on the surfaces, or within solids, liquids or gases (including human boy) is called radioactive contamination.

Note:- Contaminated evidence in forensic science can lead to mistrials, wrongful convictions, or even the dismissal of evidence. Interplanetary contamination is a type of contamination and refers to biological contamination of a planetary body by a spacecraft or space probe, either deliberately or unintentionally.