Which term refers to the negative impact that affects a product's integrity?

The correct term that refers to the negative impact affecting a product's integrity is contamination. Contamination occurs when unwanted substances, microorganisms, or impurities are introduced into a product, thereby compromising its safety, efficacy, and overall quality. In sterile compounding, maintaining a contamination-free environment is crucial to ensure that sterile products remain safe for patient use.

Contamination can arise from various sources, such as improper handling, environmental factors, or failure to maintain aseptic conditions. Its presence can lead to adverse reactions in patients and significantly undermine trust in pharmaceutical products.

The other terms, while related to issues that may affect product quality, do not specifically address the integrity of the product in the same way. For instance, pollution relates to environmental harm but does not necessarily pertain to manufactured products. Adulteration typically refers to the intentional or unintentional addition of inferior substances that diminish product quality but may not have an immediate implication of contamination. Cross-contamination specifically refers to the transfer of contaminants from one product to another, which is a form of contamination but not as general a term as contamination itself.