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
CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Pelfrey said workers completed asbestos remediation work Jan. 17 at the town hall, which formerly was a school until it was donated to the town.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
The company is involved in ongoing asbestos litigation and has recorded liabilities and insurance recoveries related to these claims.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 17 Mar. 2025
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health explains that the combustion of siding, roofing tiles, and insulation produces ash that can contain asbestos and heavy metals like lead.
—Francine Kiefer, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Asbestos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asbestos. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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asbestos
noun
Medical Definition
asbestos
noun
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