asbestos
noun
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A grayish mineral that separates readily into long, flexible fibers, asbestos was used in the past to make brake linings, insulation, roofing shingles, floor and ceiling tiles, cement pipes, and other building materials. Asbestos fabrics were used for safety apparel and theater curtains. In the 1970s, it was found that prolonged inhalation of the tiny asbestos fibers can cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases. In 1989, the US Government instituted a gradual ban on the manufacture, use, and export of most products made with asbestos.
Examples of asbestos in a Sentence
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Feb. 2025
Harmful materials like lead, mercury, arsenic and asbestos can be hidden under heavy debris or mixed into ash and soil.
—Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2025
Previous scientific research shows that the detritus left behind after a fire can be laden with toxic compounds and gases, from heavy metals to burned plastics to asbestos.
—Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), asbestos and heavy metals are a few of the toxins being released into the atmosphere.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Asbestos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asbestos. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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asbestos
noun
Medical Definition
asbestos
noun
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