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Michael Sheen Meets Welsh First Minister Over Toxic Dumping Allegations
By Drooid · · How we work
Meeting Between Michael Sheen and Rhun ap Iorwerth
Hollywood actor Michael Sheen said he had a “constructive” meeting with First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth to discuss the toxic-dumping claims raised in his BBC documentary *Buried with Michael Sheen*. Sheen posted on Instagram that the discussion focused on how to move forward and address the issues highlighted by the film, describing the early stage of the dialogue as “really encouraging.” The meeting, which took place after the documentary’s broadcast in August, marks the first direct engagement between the actor-activist and the Welsh government on the matter.
Documentary Background and Findings
*Buried with Michael Sheen* investigates historic chemical dumping at 14 sites across Wales and north-west England, sites alleged to have been used by Monsanto for disposing of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The documentary’s investigative team—journalists Lucy Taylor and Dan Ashby, working with the late farming consultant-turned-campaigner Douglas Gowan’s research—tested soil samples at all locations. Elevated PCB levels were detected at every site except one, confirming long-standing community concerns about contamination.
Political Response and Calls for National Testing
In the UK Parliament the week before the meeting, Sheen urged MPs to back a national testing programme for historic toxic dumps, citing recent findings of high PCB concentrations in both soil and the blood of residents living near the suspected sites. The actor’s advocacy links the chemical exposure to increased cancer risk, a claim that aligns with the documentary’s evidence but remains under investigation by health authorities.