Michael Sheen finds toxic PCBs in blood during Wales investigation

Actor Michael Sheen has discovered polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’, in his own blood during the filming of a two-part BBC documentary titled ‘Buried with Michael Sheen’. Sheen agreed to undergo testing to serve as a control for the investigation, which examines historic toxic waste dumping sites across Wales and North West England.

The documentary explores claims made by the late whistleblower Douglas Gowan, who alleged that thousands of tonnes of PCBs were dumped at approximately 14 sites, including Brofiscin Quarry in South Wales. PCBs were widely used in the mid-20th century as coolants and insulators but were banned in the 1980s due to their links to cancer and their ability to persist in human tissue and the environment.

Sheen reported feeling ‘shocked’ by the results, noting that the findings highlight the lack of a safe level for these substances. The investigation also examines reports of residents living near these sites having abnormally high PCB levels and increased diagnoses of rare cancers.