Final answer:
Deodorization does not decontaminate hazardous materials but rather removes odors. It does not involve the reduction, destruction, or deactivation of contaminants like the methods of disinfection, disposal, or emulsification do.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the options provided, deodorization is not a mechanism of decontamination from hazardous materials. Deodorization refers to the removal of odor, particularly from environments or materials, and does not involve the removal, destruction, or deactivation of hazardous substances. In contrast, methods like disinfection, disposal, and emulsification are directly involved in reducing the hazard posed by contaminants. Disinfection utilizes chemicals to kill microbes on surfaces or objects. Disposal is the proper discarding of hazardous materials to prevent exposure and environmental contamination. Emulsification involves the mixing of hazardous liquids with emulsifiers to form a stable mixture, typically used in the cleanup of oil spills.
When discussing microbial control, disinfectants are used for killing or inhibiting the microorganisms on inanimate objects, while antiseptics are suitable for use on living tissues to prevent infection. For instance, the effectiveness of chemical disinfectants has been historically compared to that of phenol. The goal of degerming is to achieve microbial control by reducing the number of microorganisms from the surface of the skin, usually through washing with soap and water. However, degerming does not completely eliminate microbes but significantly reduces their presence on the skin.