A CONTROVERSIAL new book released today describes the full extent of chemical and germ warfare experiments carried out in Hampshire and Dorset in the 1950s.

Gassed, by journalist Rob Evans, describes how scientists carried out more than 150 highly-secret experiments over large, populated areas of the UK over two decades, to test the reaction of chemical clouds when released into the atmosphere, in preparation for a Soviet attack during the Cold War.

His research reveals that two initial tests were emitted from a disused RAF station near Beau-lieu, covering 50 miles of Hamp-shire with zinc cadmium sulphide (a marker chemical), including the whole of Southampton. Other test trials sent clouds of the chemical over Salisbury, Basingstoke, Winchester and Ringwood.

The chemical had fluorescent particles which were traced and monitored at various recording stations. But new evidence has now come to light which shows "intrinsic errors" in the trials, where up to half the zinc cadmium sulphide particles lost their fluorescence. This meant the calculations at recording stations weren't as succinct as the population was led to believe.,

As a result no one can now be sure how much of this chemical was actually dispersed over these areas or how dangerous it was to residents inhaling it.

At the time of the trials this chemical was regarded as safe and not toxic to the public. However, since the end of the trials doubts have arisen.

Rob Evans said: "Porton Down, where these tests originated, argued that the compound was 'probably harmless' and 'probably caused no illness', since Britons only inhaled a 'trivial' amount of the compound.

"An inquiry in 1999 focused on cadmium, the substance known in the 40s as harmful to humans which people should avoid 'inhaling or swallowing, even in small amounts'. But the results were made public in March this year and they concluded that the trials had not harmed the health of the British public.

"Yet the levels of cadmium were not really known. So how can their affect on people really be measured?"

Two years ago details of a later batch of trials carried out over Hampshire by Porton Down were released where strains of e-coli were exposed over areas like Southampton.

Another inquiry has been held into this and Porton didn't pass with flying colours. It said that al-though the trials were "unlikely" to have affected the "overwhelming majority" of healthy citizens they could have put a "small number of individuals at risk of infection."

But Salisbury MP Robert Key and New Forest East MP Julian Lewis have both defended the trials, with Mr Lewis saying trials were necessary, in light of the Cold War. Mr Key said: "I am very keen that the government should say it has no intention of closing Porton Down. I think the important thing to remember is that Porton Down remains crucial to the security of our country."