A campaign group in north Wales is pushing for blood testing following revelations about contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) near former industrial sites. The movement gained momentum after a documentary highlighted decades of chemical dumping by a major manufacturer at lagoons in the region. Residents including Natalie Dugdale, who relocated to the countryside years ago, expressed concern about their families’ potential exposure to these toxic substances found in soil near public footpaths and recreational areas.
The campaigners argue that blood testing would provide residents with crucial information about their exposure levels and offer peace of mind. Several residents reported health concerns, including rare cancers, and noted elevated PCB levels in their own testing commissioned privately for the documentary. Community members emphasized that understanding contamination patterns could help protect future generations and drive remediation efforts. Supporters of the initiative pointed to examples from the United States and other European nations where blood testing programs for chemical exposure are already established.
Public Health Wales, however, has declined to recommend a voluntary blood testing program. The health authority stated that such tests would not reliably indicate individual exposure sources or health impacts, given multiple potential PCB sources in the environment including food and building materials. Officials also noted that without available treatments for elevated PCB levels, widespread testing could cause unnecessary anxiety among participants. This position has drawn criticism from residents and elected representatives who argue that people deserve access to information about their own bodies, regardless of treatment availability.
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