Occupational Asthma

During the last decade, our data sources indicate that there has been an overall decrease in work-related asthma.

The latest information shows:

• Each year there were about 23 new cases of work-related respiratory disease per 100 000 workers during 2008-2010, according to reports by GPs (THOR-GP).
• This suggests about 7 000 new cases per year - and a substantial number of these will be asthma cases caused or made worse by work.
• Reports of more serious cases of occupational asthma from specialist doctors suggests there has been a reduction in the number of new cases per year over the last decade (THOR-SWORD).
• About 30 000 people currently report they are suffering from breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by their work (LFS).
• The most common causes of occupational asthma are isocyanates, and flour/grain (THOR-GP).

Figure 1: Occupational asthma in Great Britain, 1993-2010