The thing is that it poses a risk that can be avoided, since there are alternative materials with the same (or better) properties that doesn't cause cancer. As

The thing is that it poses a risk that can be avoided, since there are alternative materials with the same (or better) properties that doesn't cause cancer. Asbestos was widely adopted because it was a very cheap material, they did know that it was dangerous but that fact was hidden by the companies selling asbestos containing materials for profit. There is no reason to use it. Not only asbestos, for example in the past they used to put radioactive material in daily life object, such as clocks, dials, etc to illuminate them in the dark. Obviously it was not a good idea, since the risk it poses didn't justify the purpose. Same thing with smoke detectors, now we are no longer using radioactive particles in them, basically because we have better electronics that not only can replace radioactive material but can be more effective in detecting a fire.