Final answer:
A tool that is free from dirt, oil, and microbes has been decontaminated, which is crucial for preventing disease transmission in various settings, including medical environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a tool is free from dirt, oil, and/or microbes, it has been decontaminated. Decontamination is the process of cleaning to remove contaminants such as dirt, oil, and microorganisms, making an object safe for handling. This process is critical in medical settings to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
This ties into proper microbial control methods, such as using antiseptics on living tissues to prevent infection, and employing filtration to physically remove microbes from samples. The maintenance of an aseptic work environment requires the initial absence of microbes on tools and equipment, achieved through procedures including sterilization.
In the context of wastewater treatment, after primary treatment, one might observe that much of the dissolved solids have been removed, but not necessarily all harmful bacteria and other biological agents. And contaminated waste would typically be treated by methods such as incineration or autoclaving in a strong basic solution to ensure decontamination.