The impact this poses to humans and wildlife is unknown
Only 82 sites in Wales have been officially classified as contaminated by local councils(Image: Friends of the Earth Cymru)
Over 45,000 land sites in Wales may be contaminated with toxic waste, research has found. The sites have not been properly inspected and therefore pose a serious threat to people, water and wildlife.
Friends of the Earth Cymru, who conducted the research, are now calling for a public inquiry into the scale and impact of contaminated land in Wales. They said that such land could sit beneath homes, schools, parks and nature areas but the risk to human health and wildlife is unknown.
Only 82 sites in Wales have been formally classified as contaminated by local councils, including 27 in Caerphilly and 18 in Merthyr Tydfil. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here.
However, the truth of the matter could be far more serious with research finding 45,157 potentially contaminated sites. Friends of the Earth have identified 10,000 in Powys, 6,563 in Carmarthenshire and 6,000 in Neath Port Talbot.
Friends of the Earth said that many local councils partial or entire failure to publish contaminated land information leads to an “alarming postcode lottery” across Wales.
Contaminated land is largely caused by Wales’ industrial past including from factories, mining and landfill which leave behind heavy metals, oils and tars, chemical substances, gases and radioactive substances.
The recent Netflix show, Toxic Town, highlighted the dangers of unchecked high-risk toxic sites.
In 2024, research found that 6% of people in Wales live near land contaminated by historic metal mining which has left lead in soil.
According to the World Health Organisation, there is no level of exposure to the metal which does not have harmful effects to humans.
Kirsty Luff, Friends of the Earth Cymru spokesperson, said: “We must make sure the land beneath our feet is safe for people and wildlife. It’s shocking that so much land could be contaminated and yet isn’t being properly inspected.
“People in Wales deserve to know whether the places where they live, work, and play are free from pollution. Without proper inspection, these sites remain a mystery – a hidden toxic legacy from our industrial past that could still be harming communities today.
“Councils are legally required to identify and assess contaminated land, but they don’t have the funding, resources, or political support to do the job. That’s why we’re calling for a public inquiry and urgent action from both the Welsh and UK Governments.
“This issue must not be ignored – the longer the delay, the greater the risk to our health, the environment and future generations.”
Friends of the Earth believe there should be a public inquiry into the situation in Wales, a public register of contaminated sites across Wales and stronger national legislation to address historic pollution and the implementation of a contaminated land regime.