Wales Residents Demand PCB Blood Testing Amid Toxic Waste Concerns

Residents living near former chemical dumping sites in Wales are advocating for voluntary blood testing to assess potential exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), persistent organic pollutants linked to cancer. The call for testing has intensified following a BBC documentary that highlighted a lagoon in north Wales, previously used as a dumping ground by the chemical giant Monsanto, as a site of significant concern.

Natalie Dugdale, a resident who moved to the area two years ago, expressed shock after learning about the lagoon's history. "I was really upset because having young children, what are they being exposed to?" she said. Dugdale is now part of a campaign group, including other residents, who are worried about potential poisoning from years of exposure to toxic waste and are pushing for widespread voluntary blood testing across Wales.

Public Health Wales (PHW) has stated that it does not recommend blood testing for PCBs, arguing that such tests do not reliably indicate individual exposure levels or potential health impacts. The body also cited the absence of a treatment for elevated PCB levels and the risk of causing undue anxiety among those found to have the chemicals in their blood. PHW consultant in environmental public health, Prof. Sarah Jones, stated that the tests would provide a number that cannot be interpreted or used to rectify any issues, potentially magnifying worries. Instead, PHW advocates for focusing on making suspected dumpsites safer.

Michael Phillips, who played at the Llwyneinion lagoon as a child and later developed a rare cancer, underwent private testing which revealed high levels of PCBs in his blood. He believes his illness, and that of friends who have died from similar rare cancers, may be linked to the site, though no definitive link has been established. Phillips is among those supporting the campaign for blood testing, alongside a national soil testing program.

Doug Gowan, whose concerns about historical toxic waste dumping were featured in the documentary "Buried with Michael Sheen," has identified 13 other suspected dumpsites across Wales used by Monsanto. The documentary team found elevated PCB levels in soil samples from an area open to the public near the fenced-off Llwyneinion lagoon.

Community councillor Katie Witherden, whose husband Steve Witherden is the Labour MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, described PHW's response as "chilling." She argues that testing would provide residents with answers about their exposure and that the campaign is not focused on treatment, as PCBs are not treatable. "We know they can't treat PCBs and that's not what we're asking for," she stated.

Nel Byers, another resident and member of the campaign group, emphasized the need for testing for peace of mind and to demonstrate on a national scale whether communities have heightened PCB levels. She suggested that testing might prompt action on the dumpsites themselves.

The Welsh government has acknowledged the concern, stating that addressing contaminated land is a priority. It plans to develop a Wales-wide strategy for restoring post-industrial land, strengthening the "polluter pays principle," and seeking UK Government funding for remediation efforts. However, Monsanto no longer exists, and Eastman Chemical Company, which inherited its legacy production in the UK, has not commented.

Dr. Dave Megson, involved in testing for the "Buried" documentary, noted that countries like the US and in Europe are further ahead in using blood testing for chemical contamination. He believes advanced science can extract valuable information from such tests, even if they cannot definitively prove causation for health issues.

Dr. Will Mackintosh from the Royal College of GPs Cymru suggested that additional support might be necessary for GPs in communities affected by contamination concerns in the future. The Welsh government has committed to a strategy for contaminated land remediation, aiming to address the legacy of industrial pasts and secure environmental justice.