amianto

asbestos

noun ah-MYAHN-toh Rare

Origin: From Greek amianton (undefiled), because it was thought incorruptible by fire.

Usage Note

Amianto is the standard Italian term for asbestos, the fibrous silicate mineral. Italy banned asbestos in 1992, and amianto appears frequently in news and legal contexts related to environmental remediation and mesothelioma lawsuits. The less common synonym asbesto also exists. The plural gli amianti is rarely needed as the substance is treated as uncountable.

Examples

"Molti edifici degli anni Settanta contenevano amianto."

Natural Translation

Many buildings from the 1970s contained asbestos.

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