[echelon]

Asbestos is still being used in industrial settings today.

In undergrad, we used it frequently in organic chemistry for thermal reactions like sodium fusion.

We don't see it being installed in places where it can be easily inhaled. But it absolutely still has uses.

[larryliu]

No, it's no longer produced anywhere in the world except Russia.

New industrial projects don't use asbestos. Existing installations are replaced with rockwool, fiberglass or kaowool once it need replacement.

Your undergrad professor wasn't up to date. Kaowool is a drop in replacement.

[joshuanapoli]

The EPA has an action to ban asbestos more completely. https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-expo...