Actor Michael Sheen has welcomed the public response to his documentary examining Wales' toxic waste legacy, stating his hope that it will compel relevant authorities to "find a solution." Dozens of individuals contacted BBC Wales following coverage of Sheen's investigation into chemical giant Monsanto and the historical dumping of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
One former Monsanto worker shared their experience, detailing three years spent helping to seal toxic waste underground. This individual reported that staff were provided with "cheap" protective equipment and were not informed about the materials they were burying. Eastman Chemical Company, which is responsible for Monsanto's past production activities in the UK, has not yet responded to requests for comment from Sheen's team or the BBC.
Sheen described receiving "extraordinary messages" from people eager to share their stories and experiences of how they have been affected by the toxic waste. He indicated that there is significant follow-up work to be done based on these communications. The actor stressed his desire to see tangible progress, stating, "So getting a response was a really important part of it, and hoping that response would push the people who are in positions to get on with it."
"We want to find a solution rather than something that keeps putting people in a position where they have to put breaks on because they can't afford to get involved in this, so we really want to find a solution to this," Sheen added, expressing a desire for collaboration with officials. "We want to find a solution rather than something that keeps putting people in a position where they have to put breaks on because they can't afford to get involved in this, so we really want to find a solution to this."