Workplace asthma leaving economy short of breath

According to new research published in online journal, Thorax, workplace asthma costs the UK millions each year.

The authors of the research have said that employers must address the issue of occupational asthma as currently it is not high on the priority list for businesses despite approximately 3,000 new cases being diagnosed every year in the UK.

The researchers reviewed the costs and impact of workplace asthma. The evidence was then used to calculate an individual's ability to work and their reliance on the NHS, based on a series of scenarios.

These included employees who developed asthma after being exposed to common sources that cause symptoms such as isocyanates, latex and flour or grain.

The financial impacts on businesses and the economy in general were assessed by examining the costs met by the sufferer, direct costs, such as use of healthcare and benefits and indirect costs, such as lost income and productivity. The true costs were calculated at between £72 and £100 million over the life course of those affected, or £3.4 to £4.8 million a year and this figure is estimated to be on the conservative side.

However, only 3 to 4% of the total is the responsibility of employers to cover, but, experts believe there is potential for companies to reduce such a financial burden even further by minimising the levels of exposure to agents that cause workplace asthma.

The research reiterated that the cost to society of occupational asthma in the UK is high and that steps need to be taken to tackle the issue. It read: "Each year a new stream of lifetime costs will be added as a newly diagnosed cohort is identified. Approaches to reduce the burden of occupational asthma have a strong economic justification."