Lafarge cement factory warned over leaking dioxin

Wiltshire cement factory Lafarge has received a written warning from the Environment Agency (EA) over leaking dioxins.

EA tests of two kilns at the Westbury factory in February recorded a dioxin result from one kiln above the permitted level.

Dioxins are released into the atmosphere from combustion and other thermal processes and are known to increase the likelihood of cancer.

EA spokesman Andy Gardiner said there was no evidence that the Lafarge plant or process conditions were unsatisfactory.

He said all other results for substances emitted from the kilns were very low and within permitted levels.

“We have thoroughly investigated this unusual result, which is the first one over the permitted limit during seven years of similar measurements, which has provided 33 compliant results,” he said.

Lafarge Westbury works manage Jim Cross said internal investigations found no abnormalities that would have led to the raised dioxin levels.

He said: “A further test carried out just a week later on the same kiln, by an independent UKAS accredited testing house, recorded a far lower and more typical dioxin level.

“On the same day as the high result was recorded, a second dioxide test carried out on our other kiln yielded a typical result of 0.02ng/m3, which is five times lower than the permitted limit.”

Further tests are to be carried out on the kilns over the next two weeks, while follow up tests by the EA since February have found dioxide levels within the permitted level.