Full Breakdown
Michael Sheen pushes for national testing of historic PCB dumps after BBC documentary
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Parliamentary hearing on historic PCB contamination
On Thursday 10 September, actor-campaigner Michael Sheen appeared before the Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster with journalists Lucy Taylor and Dan Ashby. The hearing examined the BBC two-part series *Buried with Michael Sheen*, which investigated alleged dumping of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at sites across Wales and north-west England. Sheen said he had invited Rhun ap Iorwerth, the First Minister of Wales, to view the programme before its broadcast, but the offer “was not taken up”. He called on MPs to back a national testing programme for historic toxic dumps and urged clarification of which government would fund and oversee such testing.
Background & Context – Decades-long PCB dumping
The documentary centred on whistle-blower Douglas Gowan, who claimed that chemical manufacturers, notably Monsanto, buried thousands of tonnes of PCBs in former quarries during the 1960s and 1970s. Sites highlighted include the Llwyneinion Acid Tar Lagoon near Ruabon (estimated 1,100 barrels of waste) and Ty Llwyd Quarry in Ynysddu. The programme featured interviews with residents, scientists and environmental specialists, and documented volunteers—including Sheen—undergoing blood testing for PCB exposure.
Data & Statistics – Evidence from the investigation
- Soil samples were taken at 14 locations; 13 showed “above-average or high” PCB levels.
- Volunteers’ blood tests revealed 80 + PCBs per person; Sheen’s result was 82 different PCBs, which he called “shocking”.
- The Llwyneinion site holds an estimated 1,100 barrels of chemical waste.
- Wrexham Council’s internal assessment estimated the first-choice remediation would cost £40 million; the fallback option was fencing and monitoring.
Official Statements & Responses
- A Welsh Government spokesman said the administration views “addressing contaminated land” as a priority and is arranging a meeting between the First Minister and Sheen. The spokesman added that the government intends to strengthen the “polluter pays” principle and press the UK Treasury for funding.
- Cllr Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council’s lead for strategic planning, stated that the Llwyneinion lagoon is “secure” and that monitoring equipment is in place.
- Chief Executive Alwyn Jones (committee chair) emphasized that the polluter-pays principle must be enshrined in law and called for joint support from the Welsh and UK governments.
- Ruth Jones MP, chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, noted that the committee has written to Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock to press for a coordinated four-nation approach to testing and funding.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you look at the internal paperwork, when Wrexham Council assessed that lagoon, the advice was the first choice was clean it up. It will cost 40 million pounds. The second option was if you haven’t got the money, then put a fence around it, and just monitor it. But that was only if you haven’t got the money.” — Mr Ashby, investigative journalist
- “When I met with Cllr Paul Pemberton recently he highlighted a number of additional sites which we are now going to look at.” — Chief Executive Alwyn Jones, committee chair
What’s Next – Upcoming actions and funding talks
The appearance on 10 September marks the first formal parliamentary scrutiny of the documentary’s claims. The Welsh Government has pledged to set a date for a meeting with Sheen “as soon as possible.” Both governments have been urged to allocate funds for a national testing programme and to enforce the polluter-pays principle.
