Which action is specifically used to reduce absorption of a toxin in decontamination?

• A. Reduce Toxin Intake
• B. Increase Elimination of Toxin
• C. Dilute Toxin in Blood
• D. Reduce Absorption of Toxin

Answer: (D)

Reducing absorption of a toxin is the action used in decontamination because the goal is to limit how much toxin enters the bloodstream after exposure. In practice, this means removing the toxin from the exposure site or binding it in the GI tract before it can be absorbed—such as washing skin thoroughly or administering an agent like activated charcoal to trap toxins in the gut and prevent absorption. Other options address different stages or concepts: reducing toxin intake is about limiting exposure beforehand, not a decontamination step after exposure; increasing elimination targets toxin that has already entered the body; diluting toxin in the blood isn’t a recognized decontamination method and can spread the toxin. Therefore, the action that directly reduces the amount of toxin absorbed is reducing absorption of the toxin.