Toxic waste sites exposed in Michael Sheen documentary ‘the tip of the iceberg’
BBC/Wall to Wall
Michael Sheen took on the role of investigating Douglas Gowan’s concerns about an international chemical giant dumping carcinogenic waste in Wales. The documentary, Buried, highlights a legacy of toxic waste in the country.
A former Monsanto worker speaks out
Stephen Constance worked at the chemical giant’s Newport factory in the 1990s and came forward after watching the BBC documentary. He shares his experience:
"Working for Monsanto was absolutely dreadful. It was quite evident that nobody was fully appraised of the potential hazard that they were exposed to."
Constance recalls digging a 6-meter deep trench around PCB mounds before sealing them with plastic membrane sheets and liquid clay, aiming to prevent airborne contamination. However, he raises doubts about the effectiveness of this method considering the high water table influenced by tides.
The extent of the issue
Dr David Megson, the scientist involved in the documentary, reveals that the 14 sites featured are just a small portion of the problem: approximately 20,000 high-concern toxic waste sites exist throughout the UK.
"The government in the UK told the industry ‘we’re not going to put any restrictions on importing PCBs’. So they begin importing from around the world, hundreds of tonnes of PCBs." — Dan Ashby
Health concerns
Constance, now in remission from follicular lymphoma, admits he had cancerous cells at the time of his exposure. While he cannot confirm a direct link, the thought crossed his mind.
Monsanto, when asked to comment, did not respond.
