CAMPAIGNERS looking to stop a Westbury cement works burning waste products are urging residents to have their blood tested for toxic chemicals.

Lafarge Cement is due to begin a six-month trial burning recycled liquid fuel (RLF) next year and maintain it is safe to use.

But pressure group The Air That We Breathe strongly opposes the trial and members believe blood testing will help their cause.

Survey results released in April by the World Wildlife Fund and the Co-operative Bank revealed 100 per cent of people tested across Europe had toxic chemicals in their blood.

Ninety-nine per cent of the samples included polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are released by burning RLF.

Inspired by this, The Air That We Breathe wants to discover levels among people in the Westbury area to monitor the human impact of burning RLF when it begins.

Spokesman David Levy said: "Wouldn't it be interesting to find out what the toxic loadings of Westbury people are?

"Why not request a blood screening and toxic profiling from your GP and if they are reluctant insist on it, you have that right.

"Then if you wish let me know, it may help with the argument against toxic burning.

"There should be zero tolerance to this gender bending and carcinogenic waste.

"All of these things should've been banned from the production process 20 years ago.

"The Environment Agency decision document allows Lafarge a tolerance level of PCBs.

"But until we get down to zero I'm afraid we are still going to get this stuff affecting people and getting into the blood stream."

Lafarge Cement UK's Westbury works manager, Real Simard, said: "We continue to understand people's concern when you change a long established process, like using fossil fuels to heat a cement kiln.

"However, the data from the use of a fuel mix made up of fossil fuels and recycled liquid fuel (RLF) at other Lafarge plants leads us to expect it to help improve the performance of this works, environmentally and commercially.

"For example, when RLF was used in a similar kiln to the ones at Westbury emission levels were reduced, cutting that works' impact on the local environment by over a quarter.

"We also know from soil sampling around that plant, which was near Ipswich, the soils there remained consistent with those that you would find in any agricultural area."

The Air That We Breathe is still hoping to secure an injunction to stop Lafarge burning RLF and has enlisted a top London barrister to look into the matter.

Mr Levy said: "At the moment there are various negotiations going on, but I can't say anything more yet."