Final answer:
The process of quickly reducing or removing contaminants from many individuals in emergency situations is called mass decontamination. It is different from sanitization, disinfection, or sterilization, which have varying degrees of microbial load reduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physical process of rapidly reducing or removing contaminants from multiple persons in potentially life-threatening situations is referred to as mass decontamination. This process is distinct from other forms of microbial control such as sanitization, disinfection, or sterilization. Sanitization generally involves the cleansing of objects to reduce microbial presence to safe levels, whereas disinfection inactivates most microbes on surfaces using antimicrobial chemicals or heat. The most thorough form of microbial control is sterilization, which aims to completely eradicate all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, and spores. Mass decontamination is crucial in situations such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear incidents, where rapid response is necessary to protect public health.