respirable

American  

[res-per-uh-buhl, ri-spahyuhr-uh-buhl] / ˈrɛs pər ə bəl, rɪˈspaɪər ə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being respired.

2. capable of respiring.

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respirable British  

/ ˈrɛspɪrəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be breathed

2. suitable or fit for breathing

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Other Word Forms

• nonrespirable adjective
• respirability noun
• respirableness noun
• unrespirable adjective

Etymology

Origin of respirable

From the Late Latin word respīrābilis, dating back to 1770–80. See respire, -able

Example Sentences

“Why isn’t a more thorough investigation being done to look for suspended particles that are too light to settle on surfaces and that are still of respirable size, small enough to get into your lower lung?” said Dawn Bolstad-Johnson, an industrial hygienist who has studied exposures in post-fire environments.

From Los Angeles Times

“The fabrication industry staunchly supports focused regulatory oversight and enforcement of workplace conditions that pose health risks from respirable crystalline silica,” it said.

From Los Angeles Times

The Labor Department rule lowers the permissible exposure limit of respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for a full-shift exposure, calculated as an 8-hour average.

From Seattle Times

Not understanding that it's inhalation, and that there's plenty of things bigger than respirable aerosols that can deposit in your nose, and in your large airways; and if there are susceptible cells there, it can cause infection; and can still hang in the air.

From Salon

“The contribution of small respirable particles, sometimes called aerosols or droplet nuclei, to close proximity transmission is currently uncertain. However, airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely,” according to the guidance.

From The Guardian