The official Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates that in 2009/10, 38,000 workers had "breathing or lung problems" caused or made worse by work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that its figures show up to 3,000 people develop occupational asthma in the UK every year, or up to 7,000 if cases that are aggravated by work are included.
Hazards magazine estimates the total number of work-related asthma cases to be around 750,000. Asthma UK estimates another 750,000 have their pre-existing asthma aggravated by work.
Occupational asthma is the most commonly reported lung disease in Great Britain. According to the HSE it costs society up to £1.1 billion over 10 years.
