We still haven't found good replacements for those materials (asbestos in particular) at similar price points.
While I agree that we shouldn't be wrapping every hot water pipe in asbestos and painting kids bikes with led paint there's got to be a more flexible middle ground between outright ban and allowing widespread use. Leaded brass plumbing fittings are everywhere (and labeled to indicate they should not be used for potable water) and nobody complains.
I wish asbestos in particular were still available for situations where you need insulation that's really hard to catch on fire, there's really no replacement for it that I'm aware of.
While I agree that we shouldn't be wrapping every hot water pipe in asbestos and painting kids bikes with led paint there's got to be a more flexible middle ground between outright ban and allowing widespread use. Leaded brass plumbing fittings are everywhere (and labeled to indicate they should not be used for potable water) and nobody complains.
I wish asbestos in particular were still available for situations where you need insulation that's really hard to catch on fire, there's really no replacement for it that I'm aware of.