WQ85892 (e) Tabled on 10/08/2022

What are the implications on public safety of pollutant emissions including polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) from the former Monsanto chemical factory in Newport?

Answered by Minister for Climate Change | Answered on 22/08/2022

Emission limits in the environmental permit for this facility are set to meet standards to protect human health and the environment. At the time of the last permit review in 2004, an improvement condition was included in the permit requiring the operator to conduct a risk assessment of the environmental impact of PCBs releases to the estuary, including scope for bio-accumulation within the food chain. This found that the risks of sediment and biological contamination were below levels of concern. Since then, reported annual releases from the site have decreased.