Author: Sarah Groom

Travel warnings for methanol poisoning have been extended to eight new countries following a rise in cases of death and serious illness.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has expanded methanol poisoning warnings to cover eight additional countries Ecuador, Kenya, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Uganda and Russia. The FCDO previously only included guidance on methanol poisoning in places where British nationals have been affected. These countries are: Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Fiji.

The FCDO is campaigning on the dangers of methanol poisoning through the “Know the Signs of Methanol Poisoning” advertising campaign.

The update follows engagement with Parliamentarians, industry bodies, and those affected by methanol poisoning overseas.

Methanol is an industrial alcohol that can be found in antifreeze and paint thinners. In some countries overseas it is illegally mixed with spirit-based drinks and cocktails to cut costs. Even small amounts of methanol can cause blindness or death within 12-48 hours of consumption. The toxic substance is tasteless and odourless, making it impossible for travellers to detect.

The updated travel advice pages link to a refreshed Travel Aware campaign page providing comprehensive information on recognising symptoms and reducing risks.

British nationals are advised to purchase sealed drinks from licensed establishments, avoid homemade alcohol and be particularly cautious of pre-mixed spirits, cocktails and drinks served in buckets or jugs.

Travellers are also advised to watch out for warning signs of methanol poisoning, which include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion. Though in the early stages methanol poisoning can resemble alcohol poisoning, distinctive symptoms of methanol poisoning – such as vision issues – can develop between 12-48 hours after consumption. Anyone showing any signs of methanol poisoning should seek urgent medical attention immediately.

The FCDO regularly reviews and updates its travel advice to ensure British nationals have access to the latest information about potential risks overseas.

Scottish Airspace Modernisation is a coordinated change proposal in Scotland between Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport and NATS – the UK’s main provider of air traffic services.  It is part of a nationwide programme, required by Government policy and the Civil Aviation Authority’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy, to enable airspace quicker, quieter and cleaner flights within the UK.  

The UK airspace network is one of the busiest and most complex in Europe, handling around a quarter of the continent’s air traffic despite having only 11% of its airspace. Today, more than 2.4million aircraft fly through UK skies every year, carrying over 300 million passengers.

But the current system is outdated. Just like our roads and railway networks, airspace requires critical updates to keep people moving efficiently. Through modern technology and aircraft, and creating a more efficient airspace design, we can help reduce delays, improve safety and deliver quicker, quieter and environmentally cleaner flights.

Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport are responsible for redesigning the airspace up to 7,000ft, including the modernisation of their departure and arrival routes. NATS is responsible for connecting these routes into the wider UK airspace network above 7,000ft.

To redesign the entire UK airspace network is especially complex as many airports share their airspace with neighbouring airports. A proposed change at one airport might have an impact on another nearby, and these effects need to be assessed and balanced.

To coordinate this, the Airspace Change Organising Group (ACOG) has developed a Masterplan, which is a coordinated implementation plan for airspace changes across the UK. The Masterplan divides the programme into four clusters based on location: Scotland, Manchester & northern England, southwest England and southeast England.

To find out more about Scottish Airspace Modernisation and submit a response, visit: www.scottishairspacemodernisation.co.uk  

This consultation runs from 20th October 2025 until 23:59hrs on the 25th January 2026. 

New research from Public Health Scotland (PHS), conducted in collaboration with Sciensano and recently published in Public Health, the journal of the Royal Society of Public Health, projects a surge in the number of adult cases of excess weight in Scotland by 2040. The findings highlight the scale of the challenge for both population health and future care services.

Current estimates from the Scottish Health Survey show that around two-thirds of Scottish adults are overweight, and one-third are living with obesity. These figures are disproportionately higher than other UK nations and among the highest compared to other European Union countries.

This new research analysed data from the Scottish Health Survey and found that, without urgent and sustained intervention, the number of adults who are overweight or living with obesity is set to rise significantly.

Public Health Scotland have been working on national commications to deliver on the PHS Adverse Weather and Health Plan.

One of the channels used to do this is NHS Inform, for which we’ve now published sites on cold, flooding and heat.  The links can be found below:

• Flooding – How to protect your health when flooding occurs | NHS inform
• Heat – How to stay safe in hot weather | NHS inform
• Cold – How to stay safe in cold weather | NHS inform

A new Bill to regulate some of the most commonly performed non-surgical procedures has been published by the Scottish Parliament.

If passed by parliament, the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill will regulate the provision of certain non-surgical cosmetic and wellbeing procedures to ensure they are carried out in appropriate settings which can meet standards of safety and hygiene.

It will create new offences for providing non-surgical procedures outwith premises where appropriate healthcare professionals are available or to under 18s. It will also give Healthcare Improvement Scotland new powers to enter and search premises where there is a suspicion that these procedures are being carried out in breach of these offenses.

The Bill covers cosmetic and wellbeing procedures, such as Botox injections and dermal fillers, and some of the riskiest including ‘Brazilian Butt Lifts’ and thread lifts.

The Bill does not include establishing a licensing scheme for lower risk (previously referred to as Group 1) procedures such as laser treatments which would be licensed by Local Authorities, the Scottish Government intends to lay an order under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

In a 2020 public consultation on the Regulation of Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in Scotland 98% of respondents supported the principle of further regulation of procedures led by those who are not qualified healthcare professionals.

A further consultation on the details of a proposed licensing and regulation scheme asked for views on categories of procedures to be licensed as well as a minimum age restrictions. Responses to that consultation informed the development of the Bill.

Businesses seeking guidance on adapting to the requirements of the Bill will be able to access free support through Business Gateway. Additionally, FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot offers a comprehensive overview of funding opportunities, helping them navigate to change.

Public Health Scotland have published a report which assesses how practical and achievable the Eating Out, Eating Well (EOEW) Framework and the Code of Practice for Children’s Menus (COP) are.

It also looks at the impact they have on food and drinks provided by out of home food outlets taking part in the pilot phase of the EOEW Framework and COP.

The research and report was conducted by market research agency Taylor McKenzie Research was commissioned by Public Health Scotland (PHS) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS).

The EOEW Framework and COP overall was shown to be impactful, and the outlets that participated in the
research were generally receptive to maintaining the changes they made during the pilot.

Outlets widely agreed (67% agreement) that the framework supported them in offering healthier choices to customers and that the initiative is valuable in improving the provision of healthier and sustainable food.

11 out of 13 participants indicated that implementing the principles was manageable and aligned with existing practices, particularly for those who had previously taken part in the HLA.

Outlets agreed that offering tools for promotion and recognition, such as marketing assets or certificates, can encourage long-term commitment to healthy eating schemes and help outlets showcase their achievements

HSE has launched a Call for Evidence (CfE) as part of our review of:

• the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR) 2000 and
• the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998
• This review was announced by Number 10 under the Regulatory Action Programme (RAP), a government initiative led by HM Treasury to reform the UK’s regulatory landscape in support of economic growth, innovation, and business productivity.

The RAP seeks to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, enhance regulatory efficiency, and ensure legislation keeps pace with technological advancements and modern working practices.

HSE’s review of PSSR and LOLER forms part of a broader initiative to explore opportunities to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses, while continuing to uphold high standards of workplace health and safety.

The CfE seeks to build a robust evidence base to inform targeted amendments that enhance clarity, simplify requirements, and modernise regulatory processes. It is important to note that this is not a comprehensive overhaul of the regulations, but a focused effort to ensure that they remain proportionate, effective, and aligned with current and emerging technologies.

Your perspectives and expertise will be invaluable in considering the future of these regulations. We encourage you to contribute to the CfE and to share this opportunity with relevant colleagues and networks.

How to take part

There are 2 separate CfE’s. Follow the links to find out more and participate:

• PSSR CfE
• LOLER CfE

Please note: both CfE’s will close on 11 November 2025.

REHIS 150 Anniversary Forum and Dinner

The President extends sincere thanks to all speakers, exhibitors, members, staff, and delegates who attended the 150th Anniversary Forum and Dinner.  It was a remarkable day of learning, discussion, and celebration.

He would also like to thank everyone who attended the Public Health Walking Tour the following day. He thoroughly enjoyed hearing all about it upon their return to the Institute’s office, where everyone appreciated viewing the historical artifacts from the past 150 years.

Full coverage of the event will be featured in the special 150th edition of the Journal.

World Environmental Health Day – 26^th September 2025

This year’s theme is: Clean Air, Healthy People

World Environmental Health Day (ifeh.org)

REHIS Diploma in Environmental Health and SFSORB Higher Certificate in Food Practice – Professional Examinations

The Professional Examinations (Interviews) are taking place on Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 1 October at the Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline. The Institute wishes the best of luck to all 18 candidates.

Southern Centre AGM

The Southern Centre is hosting training event along with the centre AGM on Thursday 2 October 2025.  The programme and booking form is available here: Southern Centre AGM and Training Day – REHIS

Diary Date – REHIS Environmental Health Update and Annual General Meeting

The free to members Environmental Health Update is being held as a hybrid event on the morning of Friday 21 November from the REHIS Office in Edinburgh. The programme and booking form will be available soon.

This event will be followed by the Institute’s 25^th Annual General Meeting.

On 23 September Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie chaired a summit in Inverness bringing together local councillors, housing associations, business representatives, waste management organisations and community groups, scientific experts and NatureScot.

The summit was called to address growing concerns about gull behaviour in urban areas, where populations are increasing, even as coastal numbers decline.

He will also confirm that NatureScot will be investing £100,000 in councils to support efforts to limit the damage caused by gulls, ahead of next year’s breeding season. Deterrents can include measures such as the use of lasers, noise, roof spikes and netting to prevent nesting.

Mr Fairlie said:

“The summit allows us to share practical solutions, learn from real-world examples and identify gaps in current policies to develop a coordinated approach. We know that effective gull management often requires a range of solutions, particularly around litter management which provides food sources.

“Where public safety is at risk, NatureScot can issue control licences. Our focus now is on how we can prevent these issues from arising next year, with extra support provided and I look forward to seeing the projects that this additional funding will help.

“By working directly with affected communities and expert advisors we can ensure solutions are tailored to local circumstances with effective deterrents that make urban areas less attractive to gulls.”

Professor Colin Galbraith, NatureScot Chair, said:

“The evidence is clear that our gull populations are in decline. In some areas, gulls have adapted to the pressures they face – from climate change to food shortages and avian flu – by moving into our towns and cities in search of easier food and safe nest sites. We understand that some urban areas are experiencing issues with gulls and that this can have an impact on people’s lives, especially during the nesting season.

“While the debate on urban gulls has long centred on control through licensing, and that will undoubtably remain part of the picture, it is important at the same time to look at the underlying reasons for any problems, including the availability of food and nest sites for the gulls in urban settings.

“This funding will support local authorities to develop proactive and collaborative plans to manage gulls in a way that balances their conservation with any control activities.”

From 29 September to 5 October, Scotland’s Climate Week will spotlight how organisations and communities across Scotland are working together to build a climate ready future. Whether it’s through local partnerships, staff engagement, or implementing sustainable practices — your organisation can play a key role in driving action.

Here’s How Your Organisation Can Get Involved

1. Use the Climate Week toolkit – featuring social media assets and copy, WhatsApp templates, and editorial content for emails, intranets, and blogs.  These can help you to share your organisation’s commitment and encourage others to take action.
2. Reshare Net Zero Scotland content on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram to help amplify the message and drive collective action. You can also download our social content calendar to help plan and schedule your posts.
3. Encourage everyday climate-positive behaviours – like reducing energy use, choosing active or public transport, cutting food waste, and switching off vehicle engines when stationary. These simple actions help lower emissions and build healthier, more sustainable communities.
4. Use #ScotClimateWeek and #LetsDoNetZero to connect with others and showcase your organisation’s role in building a climate-ready Scotland.
5. Share your sustainability story —we can help amplify it, connect you with others, and grow the movement for change.

Find out more about Scotland’s Climate Week by visiting netzeronation.scot.

Researchers said they hope the plan can turn worry into action amid rising climate risks. 

Glasgow Caledonian University has received almost £100,000 to lead a national project aimed at helping households across Scotland better prepare for flooding – one of the country’s most pressing climate challenges.

The seven-month initiative, funded by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), is set to run until spring 2026 and aims to develop a practical, easy-to-use household flood plan which can be adopted by families across the country. It comes as new research suggests a worrying lack of preparedness among the public despite increasingly frequent and severe weather events linked to climate change.

According to data from Glasgow Caledonian, only 28% of Scottish households feel ready for a flood, while just 3% have taken practical steps such as installing resilience measures. Fewer than one in three receive flood alerts or weather warnings.

‘Flooding is one of Scotland’s biggest climate challenges, but too few people feel prepared,’ Dr Fiona Henderson, leader of the project in collaboration with the University of Glasgow and the James Hutton Institute, said. ‘By using insights from behavioural science, we want to help households take small, practical steps that could make a big difference when disaster strikes.’

At the centre of the project is a Household Flood Plan template, which offers a checklist of protective actions. These include guidance on how to how to safely switch off power and water, where to store key documents, and what to pack if evacuation is necessary. What’s more, the document is set to be professionally designed to ensure it is clear and accessible. 

Going forward, Henderson said the project, which has been commissioned by the Scottish Government, SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and the Scottish Flood Forum, will eventually become more than just a checklist. 

‘This research explores whether filling out a household flood plan can be a powerful first step – boosting awareness, encouraging responsibility and leading to further protective actions such as fitting flood barriers,’ Henderson explained. 

‘This work brings together research, community voices, and government support – not just to build Scotland’s resilience, but to share lessons internationally on how households can adapt to climate change.’

A final version of the Household Flood Plan template and guidance will be free toaccess on the CREW website in 2026, alongside a full report on the project’s findings.

Air pollution across the UK dropped between 2015 and 2024, but dangerous levels are still reached too often, shows new research published in Environmental Science: Atmospheres. 

Scientists from the University of Reading studied pollution at more than 500 monitoring sites around the UK. They looked at three main types of air pollution which harm people’s health. Two types of pollution got better over the decade. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is mainly produced by traffic, fell by 35% on average at monitoring sites. Fine particles called PM2.5, which are small enough to get deep into lungs, dropped by 30%. 

Despite these improvements, pollution still breaks safety limits too often. The average number of days each year when NO2 exceeded World Health Organization targets fell from 136 to 40 days, while for PM2.5 particles exceedances decreased from 60 to 22 days per year.  

In contrast to NO2 and PM2.5, another pollutant, surface ozone (O3) increased by 17% on average over the decade. The number of days when O3, which is formed when sunlight interacts with NO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by traffic and industry, exceeded targets doubled from 7 to 14 per year. 

Dr James Weber, lead author at the University of Reading, said: “The UK has made progress on air quality, but there is still a long way to go. Pollution from traffic is getting better, but we need both local action and international cooperation to improve all types of air pollution. The fact that O3 is getting worse while other pollution improves shows we need to think carefully about how we tackle this problem and not focus on pollutants in isolation.” 

The research highlight that different pollution types come from different sources. NO2 pollution is mainly driven by local traffic, while PM2.5 particles often blow in from other parts of the UK and continental Europe. Ozone pollution comes from both local and distant sources.   

These findings mean different approaches are needed to tackle each type of pollution. Cleaner vehicles can help reduce NO2 from traffic, but cutting PM2.5 pollution needs national and international efforts because it can travel long distances across borders from continental Europe. O3 presents a complex challenge as its formation depends on the balance of certain gases in the atmosphere, their interaction with sunlight and temperature. In particular, as NO2 decreases, O3 will increase in most urban areas unless simultaneous efforts are made to reduce the VOCs which fuel its production, highlighting the need for multi-pollutant policies which span multiple sectors and countries.