Abstract: A system for safely removing even a hazardous contaminant from a substrate surface includes a light energy source whose output is controlled to selectively provide components primarily in the visible and infrared spectrum, and a power unit for energizing the light energy source at a desired energy level, pulse width and pulse repetition rate. Proper selection of these parameters permits the energy source to heat the contaminant sufficiently to cause direct carbonization without entering a melt phase, without the need for any precoat medium. Because the resultant molecular decomposition of the contaminant occurs relatively faster than heat transfer to the underlying substrate, substantially no substrate heating results. The light source energy transforms the contaminant to an ash that is removed from the substrate by a vacuum system preferably surrounding the light source. The light source is preferably a xenon flash lamp operated with a pulse repetition rate of between about 0.