Asthma-causing substances in the workplace are costing employers billions and risking the health of their workers.

By not removing workplace substances that cause asthma a new report from the TUC said companies were suffering lower productivity and high staff turnover.

It calculated that the UK economy could lose up to £3 billion over the next decade because of the problem. A survey by the unions found that only eight per cent of employers were substituting asthma-causing substances with safer alternatives. It calculated more than 150,000 people in Britain suffer from occupational asthma as a result.

TUC general secretary John Monks said: "Asthma is simple to control in the workplace because unlike the things that cause asthma in children, employers can control what their workers are exposed to. Too many employers seem to think that asthma won't cost them any money because the NHS will pay for treatment."