Asbestos is still used when there are not good alternatives. Asbestos is only prohibited where there are practical alternatives. The problem with asbestos is

Asbestos is still used when there are not good alternatives. Asbestos is only prohibited where there are practical alternatives. The problem with asbestos is it was used where there was no rationale for its use beyond profits as a bulk material. Those profits were only available because the health costs were externalized. The existence of practical alternatives is the reason asbestos abatement is possible. The cost of abatement is almost entirely the removal and disposal, the cost of replacement materials is not a major factor.