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Over 230 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish and waste has been removed from a fly-tipping black-spot at Friarton, Perth.

The site on the banks of the River Tay has been cleared thanks to a joint effort by Perth and Kinross Council, Scottish Water, SEPA and Tay Salmon Fisheries.

Heavy machinery took three days to clear the fly-tipped waste from the land at Lower Friarton. The rubbish was taken to local waste sites for metal and plastic to be recycled.

The land is privately owned and has attracted illegal fly-tippers for many years. Although it is not the Council’s responsibility to clear fly-tipped waste from private land, the problem was getting out-of-control so a decision was taken to act for the good of the local environment.

The cleared area will now be further tidied up by the Council’s Unpaid Work Team, before fences and walls are erected either side of the road to discourage future fly-tipping. Mobile cameras have also been installed to catch any perpetrators in the act.

Council Leader, Councillor Grant Laing, said: “This area has been an eyesore for some time, and so I am very glad that this partnership effort has got the site cleared. Rubbish and waste was being dumped right at the edge of the river and so it was posing an environmental risk.

“We estimate that some of the illegally dumped waste had been there for around 15 years, and the fact we took away over 200 tonnes showed the scale of the problem.

“We hope the additional work we will carry out down at the site will prevent the problem reoccurring. Mobile cameras have been installed that will catch anyone who dumps illegally, so anyone planning to fly-tip at the site should think again.

“People who illegally dump rubbish in Perth and Kinross should know that we will investigate them, gather evidence and prosecute them whenever possible. Fly-tippers can end up with a £500 fine and in serious cases they will end up in court with a criminal record.

“There is absolutely no excuse for fly-tipping. Perth & Kinross provides several ways to get rid of bulky waste, including at our recycling centres and through special waste uplifts.”

Alex Macaskill, SEPA Unit Manager Falkirk, Alloa, Stirling and Perth, said: “Illegal operators often hide what they plan to do with waste they collect, which can lead to fly-tipping like we’ve seen at Friarton. This partnership approach helped tackle the issue here, but the first line of defence is stopping criminals getting their hands on waste in the first place.

“Services that sound too good to be true often are – and could lead to your waste being illegally fly-tipped. If you’re planning a clear-out, you can help tackle waste crime by refusing to engage the services of people that are not authorised. Don’t entrust your waste to someone if they are unable to tell you basic information like their SEPA waste carrier registration number and the named site they are taking the waste to.

“Remember, if they dispose of it illegally and we can trace the waste back to you – you can be held to account and prosecuted or fined as well. A legitimate operator should be able to tell you their SEPA waste carrier licence number and the exact location your waste will be taken to. If they won’t provide those two pieces of information don’t give them your waste.”

A spokesperson for Scottish Water added: “Illegal and irresponsible fly-tipping at this site has been a concern for a number of years, not least for our colleagues travelling to and from Perth Waste Water Treatment Works as they too often had to navigate dumped items and broken glass spilling onto the road.

“This is a good example of what can be achieved through collaborating with our partners, transforming the site into a cleaner, safer space for wider community and environmental benefit. We hope it encourages people to take pride in Perth and use the correct facilities to dispose safely of waste.”

Paul Johnston, chief executive of Public Health Scotland, has called for a preventive approach to tackle the decline in the nation’s health.

In an article for the think tank Reform Scotland, Mr Johnston said the life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest was growing. He also called for a preventative approach for older people, warning that the burden of disease from an ageing population is likely to grow.

Mr Johnston said the health service could not deal with the issue alone and wide-ranging improvements around poverty, work, education, housing and other areas were needed.

Improvements in Scottish life expectancy stalled in about 2014 to 2016, and the most recent data showed a decline.

He went on to say said the NHS cannot deal with the issue alone and wide-ranging improvements around poverty, work, education, housing and other areas are needed.

Mr Johnston said: “Excellent health services will support improved health and wellbeing of our population as a whole – but cannot bear all the responsibility for this.

“Tackling poverty impacts on health, as does the availability of good work, high-quality education and childcare, affordable housing, addressing climate change, and tackling racism.”

He called for a “collective focus” on the issue, saying: “People in Scotland now die younger than in any other Western European country. People spend more of their lives in ill health.

“The gap in life expectancy between the poorest and the wealthiest is growing.

“We have seen great progress in the past but, at the moment, Scotland’s health is getting worse.

“We must be bold and brave in the face of the health challenges we face.

“A focus on increasing prevention is increasingly gaining traction and it is important we look to shape these opportunities, particularly in reforming and modernising our public services.”

Read the full article here.

Glasgow Science Centre will be running the latest session of the Learning Lab “Our Amazing Air” starting in April 2024. 

Learning Lab is an online  STEM  learning  programme for  the  classroom and home which aims to inspire and empower learners through relevant, varied learning experiences that take place over several weeks. Each unique programme comprises lesson plans, video content and interactions with experts as well as professional learning for teachers and family support.

The Our Amazing Air programme is intended to deliver a learning programme for P5 – P7 pupils supporting learners to investigate what air is and why it is so important for us, what air pollution is and how we monitor it, how air quality can be improved and some of the steps we all can take to have a positive impact on air quality and the environment.

The programme includes a variety of materials and support for teachers including an online teacher training session on 24 April 2024, classroom activities, and teaching materials delivered over a dedicated six week learning block of two hourly sessions per week, complementing the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) outcomes. The pupils also get the opportunity for a live meet the expert Q & A session and a visit to the Science Centre. The programme is available for every primary school in Scotland. The teaching session also culminates with resources and events to coincide with Clean Air Day, scheduled for 15^th June.

For more information on the teaching programme see brochure here. To register for a place, e-mail:learninglab@gsc.org.uk or visit: Take Part in Learning Lab | Glasgow Science Centre

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have published a scientific opinion, which shows many of the most commonly farmed and consumed fish in the EU/EFTA show no evidence of parasites that can infect humans. However, parasites were found in some farmed species and more data is needed to determine how prevalent certain parasites are in farmed fish.  

Although limited, available scientific data from the EU/EFTA area, indicates that many species of farmed fish intended for the market are free from zoonotic parasite infection. These include Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, gilthead seabream, turbot, meagre, Atlantic halibut, carp, and European catfish.  

However, in European seabass, Atlantic bluefin tuna, cod, and/or tench produced in open offshore cages or flow-through ponds parasites like Anisakis and others were found

Fish produced in closed recirculating aquaculture systems with filtered water intake and heat-treated feed are almost certainly free of zoonotic parasites.  

EFSA’s experts concluded that more data is needed to estimate the prevalence of specific parasites in selected fish species, farming systems, and production areas within the EU/EFTA region. This would provide a comprehensive picture of the various combinations of main farmed fish species and relevant parasites. 

Experts assessed new methods for detecting zoonotic parasites in fishery products. These include UV-scanning, optical, molecular and OMICs methodologies.  

They also assessed methods for the inactivation of these parasites. Freezing and heating remain the most efficient ways to kill them. Ongoing research is also exploring the effectiveness of various processing techniques, such as high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field, air drying, dry-salting, double salting, and use of natural products.  

EFSA’s experts will determine by the year’s end whether any wild fish species from specific fishing areas pose a risk to public health due to the presence of zoonotic parasites.  

An international group of experts are asking for mandatory indoor air quality standards, for spaces in which people spend a significant proportion of their time.

In a paper published by the journal Science, Professor Lidia Morawska, Vice-Chancellor Fellow at the University of Surrey, along with a team of over 40 air quality specialists from around the world, has recommended setting standards for ventilation rate and three key indoor pollutants: carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and PM2.5.

Professor Morawska said: ‘Most countries do not have any legislated indoor air quality performance standards for public spaces that address concentration levels of indoor air pollutants.

‘To have practical value, indoor air quality standards must be implementable by designing new buildings that are built, operated and maintained to standard or retrofitted to meet the standards.

‘While there is a cost in the short term, the social and economic benefits to public health, wellbeing and productivity will likely far outweigh the investment in cost in achieving clean indoor air.’

The paper identifies five challenges that need to be addressed: 

Source contributions: Indoor air quality is affected by sources indoors and out. Significantly, indoor air is affected by humans breathing – the cause of most respiratory infections and controlling respiration is not as  simple as addressing other sources.

Monitoring: Methods used to measure outdoor air quality – monitoring networks and modeling – cannot  be applied to indoor air quality and significantly, there is no way to monitor indoor pathogens in real time.

Legislation: Guidelines and Standards are insufficient unless they are adopted in legislation but even then challenges exist in terms of monitoring and enforcement. 

Industry priorities: An example cited here is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, which focusses primarily on thermal comfort and energy efficiency, which is what the public are demanding. Any legislative changes will likely haver a financial impact on industry, so they will tend to resist it. 

The social and political dimension: Introducing standards is complex for a variety of reasons, not least because of issues of local attitudes, custom and the potential cost involved.  

Recognising that enforcement of indoor air quality standards in homes is unfeasible, the report suggests that standards be mandatory for public spaces while homes are designed and equipped to meet those standards, with ventilation a key.

Professor Morawska said: ‘The technologies for measuring ventilation already exist in most modern mechanically ventilated buildings but monitoring ventilation rates in terms of clean air delivered to the space requires us to consider the number of people and their activities in the space to ensure adequate IAQ.

‘A practical ventilation standard could be air from outside (assumed to be clean), or clean recirculated air to the entire occupied zone and with airflow not directed from one person to another.

‘Additional measures in support of ventilation, such as air cleaning and disinfection, could greatly reduce the need to increase the outdoor air supply, which carries a heavy energy demand.

‘Filtering recirculated air is an effective way to reduce concentration of, and thus our exposure to, airborne particulate matter, allergens and pathogens.’

Focus should be on pollutants which can be monitored easily and cheaply, specifically PM2.5, CO2 and CO.

Professor Morawska again: ‘CO2 can serve as a proxy for occupant-emitted contaminants and pathogens and to effectively assess ventilation quality,” she said.

‘We propose a CO2 concentration level of 800ppm with the proviso that outdoor concentration is used as a baseline and recognition of the fact that outdoor concentrations are increasing due to emissions to the atmosphere that outweigh removal.

‘Another key indicator of air quality we addressed is the amount of PM2.5 and we propose the WHO air quality guidelines as a basis for indoor air quality standards but with a 1-hour averaging time, as the 24 hours of the WHO AQG is much longer than people usually spend in public places.’

The paper ‘Indoor air quality standards in public buildings’ is published in Science.

The European Commission (EC) has published proposed amendments to its regulations for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. This is in an effort to align EU rules with Codex Alimentarius standards. If adopted, the new regulations would go into effect after January 1, 2026. The draft act is open for public comment until May 8, 2024.

The draft regulations would amend Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005, which sets the criteria for certain microbial contaminants in food and implements hygiene requirements for food producers.

At present, Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 states that, with the exception of foods intended for infants and special medical purposes, L. monocytogenes cannot be detected in 25 g of RTE foods (that are able to support pathogen growth over time to eventually exceed 100 cfu/g) before such products leave the production facility. However, Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 does not provide that the same criterion applies to these foods once they have left the immediate control of the producing food business operator.

The EC is proposing amendments to Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 to guarantee the same level of public health protection from production to distribution for RTE foods (other than those intended for infants and for special medical purposes) that are able to support the growth of L. monocytogenes. The proposed amendments would apply the criterion “L. monocytogenes not detected in 25 g” to all situations where covered RTE foods are placed on the market during their shelf-life and for which the producing food business operator has not been able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the competent authority, that the level of L. monocytogenes will not exceed the limit of 100 cfu/g throughout the food’s shelf life.

The amendment is in light of the fact that that the number of human listeriosis cases in the EU rose by 15.9 percent from 2021 to 2022, and because 2022 saw one of the highest fatality rates associated with foodborne listeriosis, EU regulators determined it necessary to update the food safety criteria for L. monocytogenes to protect public health.

Food Standards Scotland and Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee have created a guidance document for food standards for Butchers.

The guidance provides information on the legal references, as well as illustrations of labelling to ensure compliance. The guide will assist businesses as well as enforcement officers. It should provide clarity and a source for reference in the vent of differences of opinion as to how labelling etc. should be formatted.

The guidance can be access here.

The Scottish Parliament has voted to continue and increase the minimum unit price for alcohol by 15p to 65p per unit and will take effect from 30 September 2024.

This concludes a lengthy process which included a robust and independent evaluation by Public Health Scotland, further public consultation and intense parliamentary scrutiny.

Research conducted by Public Health Scotland and the University of Glasgow estimated that MUP had reduced alcohol-attributable deaths by 13.4% – 156 a year – and was likely to have reduced hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol by 4.1% up to the end of 2020 compared to what would have happened if MUP had not been in place.

Public health experts wrote an open letter to The Lancet last August commending Public Health Scotland’s evaluation of minimum unit pricing commenting that it was “high quality” and “comprehensive”.  

As part of a review of the level of minimum unit price, the Scottish Government commissioned the University of Sheffield Alcohol Research Group, who are experts in this field, to undertake new modelling. Putting their analysis in the context of current prices, this estimated that continuing and raising MUP to 65p could avert an additional 60 deaths and 774 fewer hospital admissions in the first year, compared to the price remaining constant in real terms.

Public attitudes research published in September 2023 found that overall more people were likely to be in favour of MUP (43%) than against it (38%) – in line with previous Scottish Social Attitudes Survey findings on MUP at intervals between 2013-2019.

PHS evaluation found there was no clear evidence of substantial negative impacts on the alcoholic drinks industry.

As part of a ‘sunset clause’ when Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) legislation was introduced in 2018, it had been due to end on 30 April, however today’s vote by MSPs ensures its continuation.

In addition, a price increase was required to counteract the effects of inflation, with a rise to 65p selected as the Scottish Government seeks to increase the positive effects of the policy.

Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Christina McKelvie said:

“I’m pleased that Parliament has agreed to continue MUP legislation and to raise the level it is set at.

“Research commended by internationally-renowned public health experts estimated that our world-leading policy has saved hundreds of lives, likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions and contributed to reducing health inequalities.

“Despite this progress, deaths caused specifically by alcohol rose last year – and my sympathy goes out to all those who have lost a loved one. However, as a letter to The Lancet by public health experts makes clear, it is likely that without MUP there would have been an even greater number of alcohol-specific deaths.

“As we have made clear, the policy aims to reduce alcohol-related harm by reducing consumption at population level, with a particular focus on targeting people who drink at hazardous and harmful levels. 

“We believe the proposals strike a reasonable balance between public health benefits and any effects on the alcoholic drinks market and impact on consumers. Evidence suggests there has not been a significant impact on business and industry as a whole but we will continue to monitor this.”

A consultation on the implementation of the ban and draft impact assessments, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment has been launched by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government, along with the UK Government and the Welsh Government, are proposing to introduce a prohibition on the sale and supply of single-use vapes (hereafter referred to as a ban on single-use vapes).

The Scottish Government have gathered views on their approach to this legislation through the consultation on Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping which ran from October to December 2023. Read the government response to this consultation.

They also held a two-week technical consultation from 23 February 2024 to 8 March 2024 on the draft Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 that would give effect to a ban. Following that consultation the Scottish Government have made updates to the definition of a single-use vape and enforcement powers. The finalised Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 are published alongside this consultation.

The consultation is open until Tuesday 14 May and can be viewed here.

The following have also been published: 

An interim Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment

Stage 1 Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment

Interim Stage 2 Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment

Interim partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment

Interim Equality Impact Assessment

An Island Communities Impact Screening Assessment

A strategic environmental assessment report

The Institute became aware very recently of the University of West of Scotland’s (UWS) decision not to accept first year entrants (2024/25) to the BSc Hons in Environmental Health with Professional Practice course.

In light of this concerning news, the Institute requested an urgent meeting with the University which was held on Tuesday 5 March where unfortunately the University confirmed their decision.  The Institute is extremely disappointed with this and understand that the University are reviewing the current structure of the course.  The University will continue to accept entrants to second year and are committed to supporting all students who are enrolled on the course. 

The Institute has given a commitment to work with UWS and other partners on this critical issue. We will endeavour to keep all members updated with progress on this.

Annual Environmental Health Forum

This year’s Annual Environmental Health Forum under the theme ‘Resilience; Professional, Local and National Perspectives’ comprises of a full day session on Wednesday 24 April 2024 is being delivered in hybrid format at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.

We have an excellent line up of acclaimed speakers from key organisations including John Beresford from Scottish Government Resilience Division; Dr Elizabeth Lawson from Newcastle University speaking about rural and island community led projects; Dr Michelle Gillies of Public Health Scotland speaking on the effect of climate change on population health and Dr Ria Dunkley, University of Glasgow presenting the GALLANT project, plus lots more!

To book a place, please follow this link Annual Forum – REHIS

Community Training

The Institute held a very successful first ever Scottish Certificate for Personal License Holders (SCPLH) Presenters update on Tuesday 19 March, with most of our Licensing centres in attendance.  For anyone interested in becoming an approved training centre to offer Licensing courses, please contact the Director of Training by email contact@

DIARY DATES – Professional Courses

The Institute is busy organising the professional courses for the year, the details of which will all appear on the website, under Professional Development and Events. Dates for your diary so far include:

• Pollution Update 22 May 2024
• Food Update 5 June 2024
• Health and Safety Update 4 September 2024
• Environmental Health Update 22 November 2024
• Environmental Public Health and Housing Update 27 November 2024

CPD

A huge thank you to all those who have submitted CPD, most of which were now administered through the online system of the website.  The list of EHOs holding Chartered EHO status will appear in a Journal later in the year.

Our President, Lynn Crothers and Past President, David Duffy were delighted to attend a very successful event at the Scottish Parliament recently to mark 50 years of ASH Scotland.  The parliamentary reception was hosted by Jackie Baillie, MSP and the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Neil Grey addressed the members along with ASH CEO, Sheila Duffy. Students from Larbert High gave a thoughtful talk about being part of a tobacco free generation. 
 
Lynn and David were delighted to represent the Institute where they were able to share the long-standing relationship the Environmental Health profession has with ASH Scotland.
 
Lynn Crothers also represented the Institute the following day at learning event hosted by ASH Scotland on how the tobacco industry is shifting the focus from cigarettes to other products including vapes.  She participated in an enforcement workshop where they discussed the price of e-cigarettes, how discounts and bundle deals are attracting people during a cost-of-living crisis, and how they’re capturing the attention of young people in particular with prices that suit their pocket money budget.

Food Standards Scotland is urging farmers to be aware of the causes of on-farm poisoning as herds go out to pasture.

Around 675 livestock in Scotland have been restricted from the food supply chain due to lead or copper poisoning in the past four years, including over 70 deaths. Farmers can help prevent this happening by following these five steps:

1. Check that vehicle and fence batteries are stored securely and out of reach of animals
2. Check fields and fences for fly-tipping before putting animals out to pasture
3. Check buildings and equipment for old lead paint peeling off
4. Check what feed sheep have access to. Some concentrates and minerals are for cattle only
5. Check supplements are right for your sheep as breeds such as Texel, Suffolk and North Ronaldsay are more susceptible to copper poisoning.

Find out more about preventing on-farm poisoning at: https://bit.ly/3Vp7HmM