Which term indicates materials that are easily reduced to dust by hand pressure, such as asbestos?

• A. Hazardous Material
• B. Health Care
• C. Fungi
• D. Friable

Answer: (D)

Friable describes materials that can be easily reduced to dust or powder by hand pressure. This property matters in infection control risk assessment because friable materials containing asbestos or other fibers can release respirable particles simply by touch or gentle disturbance, increasing inhalation exposure for workers and occupants. A classic example is asbestos-containing materials that are friable, meaning they crumble or powder with modest pressure, which triggers strict containment and protective measures during handling and removal. Non-friable materials, by contrast, are more resistant to crumbling and less likely to release fibers unless they are damaged or compromised. The other terms don’t pinpoint this specific physical characteristic: hazardous material is a broad category, health care is unrelated, and fungi are living organisms, not a description of a material’s physical tendency to create dust.