Occupational Asthma

Summary

• In 2008/09 an estimated 39,000 individuals who worked in the last 12 months suffered, "breathing or lung problems" which they believed to be work-related, according to the Labour Force Survey. This estimate includes respiratory diseases other than just occupational asthma.
• The incidence rate of occupational asthma in 2008 based on reports from occupational and chest physicians contributing to the THOR (SWORD and OPRA) scheme was approximately 10 cases per million workers per year.
• The THOR scheme is subject to underreporting and other evidence suggests that the overall incidence of occupational asthma in Great Britain may be an order of magnitude higher than that based on THOR.
• Statistical modelling by the University of Manchester showed statistically significant downward tends in the incidence of occupational asthma over the period 1999-2008 after taking account of certain factors which affect the annual estimates based on THOR.
• Isocyanates, flour and grain were the most commonly cited agents for occupational asthma in 2006-08 in the THOR and Industrial Injuries and Disablement Benefit (IIDB) schemes.
• The occupations with the highest incidence rate of occupational asthma as reported by chest physicians were ‘vehicle paint sprayers’, ‘metal making and treating process operatives’ and ‘bakers and flour confectioners’.
• The industries with the highest incidence rate of occupational asthma as reported to chest physicians were the 'manufacture of basic metals' followed by the 'manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers'.