Michael Sheen, the Hollywood actor behind a BBC documentary investigating toxic chemical dumping, announced he had a productive meeting with First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth regarding issues raised in the program. The documentary, titled Buried with Michael Sheen, examines contamination at 14 locations across Wales and northern England. Sheen initially indicated that a proposed meeting with the first minister had not occurred prior to the documentary’s broadcast in August, but the two subsequently convened to discuss pathways forward.
During remarks shared on social media, Sheen characterized the discussion as constructive and noted that addressing the issues highlighted in the documentary remained an active priority, describing the current stage as encouraging despite remaining early in the process. The actor had previously appeared before members of UK Parliament to advocate for implementation of a comprehensive national testing initiative for historic toxic dump sites to ensure public safety.
The documentary was produced in collaboration with investigative journalists Lucy Taylor and Dan Ashby, who had obtained extensive documentation and research materials from Douglas Gowan, a farming consultant and longtime campaigner who had spent years raising awareness about potential chemical hazards to local communities. The team conducted testing at the 14 targeted sites, reportedly linked to chemical manufacturer Monsanto, and detected elevated levels of PCBs—cancer-causing chemicals—at all but one location. Blood samples from individuals living near the contaminated areas revealed concerning levels of the same substances.
Among those affected was Susan Smith, a former Monsanto employee in Wrexham, whose household has experienced multiple cancer diagnoses over recent decades. Though residing just beyond a tree line separating her home from the decommissioned Ruabon chemical works, Smith and her husband Geraint have questioned whether industrial operations may have contributed to health issues within their family. Testing conducted by the documentary team found detectable PCB levels in Smith’s blood, raising additional concerns given that no safe exposure threshold exists for the chemical. The couple has since joined a local action group formed to advocate for residents impacted by industrial waste contamination in the region.
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