Written question WQ85892
- Asked by
- Natasha AsgharConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 12 days
Question
What are the implications on public safety of pollutant emissions including polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) from the former Monsanto chemical factory in Newport?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
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.