Australian singer and actress, Trisha Noble, sadly passed away on 23rd January following an 18 month fight against the asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma.
Trisha had hits in the 1960s along with a varied film career including a role in two of the Star Wars prequel films and roles on stage.
Whilst it has been reported that Trisha had mesothelioma, it is not clear where she may have been exposed to asbestos.
She was born and raised in Sydney, Australia before moving to the United States in the 1970s, returning to Australia in 1983.
Asbestos in Australia
Australia has the second highest mesothelioma death rate in the world, second only to the UK. Asbestos was used extensively in Australia between the 1950s and 1970s with the highest per capita rate of asbestos use in the world. The use of blue asbestos (crocidolite) was banned in 1967, brown asbestos (amosite) was not banned until the mid-1980s and white asbestos (chrysotile) was banned in 2003.
As with the UK, there are certain occupations where the risk of development mesothelioma is greater than others. These tend to be trades such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, shipbuilders and insulation workers.
Trisha started performing as a singer as a teenager and so it is unlikely she would have worked in any of the at risk trades. Her parents were also in the entertainment industry and so they would not have worked in the usual at risk trades and brought asbestos home on their work clothes.
Asbestos in the film industry
Asbestos was used in the film industry. Thanks to its fire proofing properties it was used in circumstances where fire may be an issue. Famously, Steve McQueen wore an asbestos racing suit and helmet in his 1971 film Le Mans. McQueen sadly passed away due to mesothelioma in 1980 and it is thought he was exposed during his time in the US Marine Corps as well as when racing cars and motorcycles as well as in his films.
Asbestos can be white and fluffy, almost like cotton and so because it didn’t pose the same fire hazards as cotton, asbestos was often used as snow. It was used in classic films including The Wizard of Oz, Holiday Inn and It’s A Wonderful Life.
With her television and film career starting in 1965, it is possible that Trisha could have been exposed to asbestos during this part of her career.
Asbestos in the environment
Asbestos is a natural mineral and it can be found in the environment, albeit in low levels.
Asbestos is dangerous when it is disturbed, the fibres become airborne and can be inhaled or ingested. The risk of developing mesothelioma increases significantly, even after so called low-level exposure. For example, walking past a building site where asbestos was being cut with a saw could present such a danger.
Unknown exposure, can you claim?
Some people may never be able to pinpoint where they were exposed to asbestos. When we hear from someone who is unsure about their exposure, we first go through their employment history and discuss the work history of their close family members. It may be that we come across companies we have pursued before and we are able to show that this is where the asbestos exposure is likely to have occurred.
If the review of companies doesn’t yield any helpful information, we would look at where the person lived and see if there is any connection to known asbestos factories or any other possible environmental exposure.
If after exhausting all possible avenues, we have been unable to pinpoint where the exposure to asbestos has come from, we would be unable to pursue a legal, civil claim for compensation but there is a government scheme that can be claimed from and we regularly assist people with the application under this 2008 scheme, completely free of charge.
If you require assistance in pursuing an asbestos claim for any asbestos related disease, then please contact us today on our freephone number 0800 038 6767. Alternatively, head over to the ‘Contact Us’ page, complete the form and we will be in touch.