asbestos

/æzˈbɛstəs/

/æzˈbɛstəs/

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral used mainly in making fireproof material. Inhaling asbestos can cause health problems such as lung cancer.

Have you ever heard about people removing asbestos from a building? That's because this material — which is a fibrous amphibole used because it's fireproof — has been found to be very bad for people's health when inhaled. If you inhale bits of asbestos, which flake off over time, you could get lung cancer, a disease caused asbestosis, or other respiratory problems. Like a lot of things, it took time for people to realize asbestos was doing more harm than good.

Definitions of asbestos

1. noun

   a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
   types:

   chrysotile

   a grey or green fibrous mineral; an important source of commercial asbestos

   tremolite

   a white or pale green mineral (calcium magnesium silicate) of the amphibole group used as a form of asbestos

   type of:

   amphibole

   a mineral or mineral variety belonging to the amphibole group