contaminate

To make something impure, poisonous, or harmful by adding a dangerous substance.

• contamination/kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən/(n)污染
• contaminant/kənˈtæmɪnənt/(n)污染物
• contaminated/kənˈtæmɪneɪtɪd/(adj)被污染的

• contaminate water
• contaminate food
• chemical contamination
• cross-contamination

1. 1.Industrial waste has contaminated the local river. (environmental)
2. 2.Use separate cutting boards to prevent cross-contamination. (food safety)

• pollute/pəˈluːt/— make dirty on a large scale, environmental
• taint/teɪnt/— spoil quality, can be abstract
• corrupt/kəˈrʌpt/— make morally impure, or data

from Latin "contaminare" = to make impure — con- (together) + tangere (to touch)