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Did you know that lighting fires in our homes is the largest source of harmful small particle air pollution in the UK? This type of air pollution can cause life-threatening illnesses, including heart and lung disease, making it crucial that we raise awareness about this growing issue.

Wood burning not only harms your health, but also your wallet and the planet. Pressures on household finances or desires to be more eco-friendly may tempt people to burn wood, but research actually shows that wood burning produces more CO₂ than oil or gas and is almost always more expensive than other forms of heating. 

That’s why the first-ever Clean Air Night is taking place on 24 January 2024, to shine a light on the uncomfortable truth about wood burning. 

This Clean Air Night, learn the truth about wood burning and help protect yourself, your family and your community by sharing what you’ve learned.  

Visit the Clean Air Hub to find out more or check out #CleanAirNight. 

Over the course of three years (from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022), researchers analysed 58,625 articles from 460 unverified sources – sources that were indicated by fact checkers and other mis/disinformation experts as frequently spreading mis/disinformation – in order to identify the main narratives of COVID-19 mis/disinformation and analyse their spread over time and across countries.

Their findings has been published on PLOS ONE – Trend analysis of COVID-19 mis/disinformation narratives – A 3-year study

The analysis shows that: 

• There are often real events behind mis/disinformation trends, which unverified sources misrepresent or take out of context.
• Vaccine-related mis/disinformation was overall the most widespread type of mis/disinformation and it started to surge in the autumn of 2020 as preliminary data on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines became available.
• Russian unverified sources pushed ambivalent messages around COVID-19 vaccines. On the one hand, they spread anti-vax messages to foreign audiences. On the other hand, they promoted the Sputnik V vaccine both at home and abroad, portraying it as an instrument for the Kremlin to demonstrate international solidarity and assert itself as the global leader that would save the world from the pandemic. 

The Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) has published a policy cautioning policy-makers and the public of the serious public health concern of cannabis.

The policy highlights evidence of substantial health harms related to cannabis use across Europe. Adopting the core principle of medicine, of ‘first do no harm’, European doctors oppose further legalisation of cannabis and urge policy-makers to make efforts to reduce cannabis use by citizens.

CPME Vice-President Prof. Dr Ray Walley said “Evidence shows that cannabis is an addictive drug with many hazards. These risks are heightened for adolescents in particular. The weight of current evidence indicates that legalisation adds to health harms across the population.

“European doctors encourage local, national, and European public health agencies to improve surveillance efforts to ensure data is available on the short- and long-term health effects of cannabis.”

Cannabis is the most consumed illicit drug in Europe. Latest estimates from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) indicate that about 23 million adults used cannabis in 2022, and 1.7 million people have a cannabis use disorder.

Cannabis use has acute health risks, and it tops the list of drug-related attendances at hospital emergency departments in Europe. In addition, regular use is associated with a range of chronic harms, many of which relate to mental health, such as psychosis, mania, depression and anxiety disorders.

CPME President Dr Christiaan Keijzer said “We need stronger public health messaging to ensure that the people in Europe, especially youth, are fully aware of the many risks associated with cannabis use.

“There is a need to develop comprehensive addiction treatment response for the many Europeans who currently have a cannabis use disorder, including accessible, comprehensive and evidence based treatment.”

The policy does not focus on cannabis-based products in specific medical conditions.

An Order laid before Scottish parliament on 10th November will see the fixed penalty notice for flytipping increase from £200 to £500 from 1 January 2024.

The Fly-tipping (Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Order 2023 exercises of the power conferred by section 33A(10) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which provides for a fixed penalty notice procedure for an offence under section 33 in respect of a contravention of subsection 1(a) (for unauthorised deposit of controlled waste) or (1)(c) (for keeping or managing controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health). These offences are commonly referred to as fly-tipping.

The Chief Statistician has released the results of the 2022 Scottish Household Survey.

In 2022 most (95%) adults rated their neighbourhood as a good or very good place to live, and over half (57%) felt there were places to meet up and socialise. The proportion of adults experiencing feelings of loneliness in the last week increased from 21% in 2018 to 23% in 2022.

Half (50%) of households said they were managing well financially in 2022, a decrease since 2019 (56%).

Satisfaction with the three main public services (local health services, schools and public transport) decreased from 53% in 2019 to 40% in 2022. The largest drop was for satisfaction with local health services (from 80% in 2019 to 64% in 2022), although levels of satisfaction were lowest for public transport (58% in 2022).

In 2022, as in 2019, most (93%) families who used Scottish Government funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) were satisfied with it, and only 1% were dissatisfied.

Climate change was more likely to be perceived as an immediate and urgent problem in 2022 (74%) than in 2019 (68%). The largest increases were amongst those aged 25-34 (67% in 2019 to 78% in 2022) or aged 75+ (56% in 2019 to 65% in 2022).

More adults reported living within a five-minute walk of their nearest green or blue space in 2022 (70%) than in 2019 (66%). They were also more likely to visit the outdoors at least once a week in 2022 (70%) than in 2019 (56%).

More than eight in ten (82%) adults had taken part in physical activity in the previous four weeks, an increase from 2019 (80%). Taking part on more than 14 days in the previous 4 weeks also increased (from 51% in 2019 to 54% in 2022).

The proportion of adults participating in cultural activities was the same in 2019 and 2022 (75%), but there has been a decrease in adults attending cultural events or places of culture (from 81% in 2019 to 74% in 2022). Involvement in formal volunteering activities has also decreased (from 26% in 2019 to 22% in 2022).

The Autumn Journal, Environmental Health Scotland is now available in the members section of the website.

Annual General Meeting 

The Institute’s Annual General Meeting was held on Friday 17 November at the Edinburgh Training and Conference Centre with many members attending, some in person and others via MS Teams.  Evonne Bauer gave her Presidential Report reflecting on the previous year in her role as President. Prior to the AGM was the Institute’s annual Environmental Health Update where we heard from an excellent line up of speakers including Food Standards Scotland and Falkirk Council, speaking on collaboration of authorities with regard to the “slimming pill case”; challenges surrounding LEZs from Transport Scotland; climate and health problems with intensive farming from the Compassion in World Farming and a view from Fife Council on commercial premises and Net Zero Waste. The presentations from the event can now be view on the REHIS Members area. 

Lynn Crothers has now been installed as the Institute’s President for the coming year. Congratulations to the Lynn and all the newly elected Members of the Council.  You can view the Council Members here. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL 

REHIS Annual Environmental Public Health and Housing Update, 29 November 2023 

The annual Public Health and Housing update event is being held on 29 November 2023. The online event will have presentations on the health risks associated with lead in drinking water, traditional buildings and retrofit, details on the use of the shared common repairs app; and more.  To book a place please click here 

Updated Scheme of Continuing Professional Development  

As a corporate member of the Institute, you are recognised as a professional through your commitment to the scheme of continuing professional development (CPD). 

The Royal Charter under which the Institute operates offers a unique opportunity for EHO members to achieve Chartered EHO status subject to complying with the CPD scheme.  This is the highest possible professional status and recognises an individual’s professional qualifications, training, experience within, and commitment to, environmental health practice. 

The Institute has recently updated the scheme of continuing professional development to one single flowing document for both EHO and non EHO members.  The updated scheme also includes alternative options to the written submission for EHOs with or working towards Chartered status. 

Read more about the updated CPD scheme here CPD – REHIS  

Special Investigators Course 

The Special Investigators Course is being held in Stirling from 11-15 December.  Although the course is full, depending on interest the Institute would be happy to organise another 5 day event or perhaps a shorter event on specific aspects of investigation, evidence gathering, witness interviewing and court room proceedings.  Happy to hear your thoughts! contact@ 

Water, Wastewater and Drainage Policy Consultation 

The Institute has been invited to comment on the consultation below and thought this may be of interest to our members.  The proposed changes will replace the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 and incorporates all water quality including PWS.  The consultation seeks views on developing policy for the future of the water industry in Scotland in response to the climate emergency and refers to the “climate crisis” that is happening now. You are invited to comment on risks and recommendations laid out by the Climate Change Committee (CCC). 

The closing date for responses is 21 February.  

https://consult.gov.scot/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/water-wastewater-and-drainage-policy-consultation/

UK Ministers have been told, that heat pumps are too loud to be installed in millions of homes under the UK Government’s noise guidelines.

The UK Government aims to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 to hit net zero targets, but a report seen by The Daily Telegraph, sound specialists warn uptake could be limited.

The study reveals that most heat pumps are too loud for many homes in built-up areas, such a terraced houses and flats, because they would break noise limits set for home-owners who want to install one without planning permission and with a government grant.

Local Authorities are also braced for a rise in noise complaints as more of the green appliances installed in urban areas.

The findings, produced by a group of noise experts, have been sent to the UK Government to contribute to a review into heat pump noise being run by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz). Air source heat pumps, which are positioned outstand a home, can produce a low constant hum of between 40 and 60 decibels which is similar to the level of noise made by a fridge or dishwasher. They will typically run continuously throughout winter.

The UK Government is encouraging homeowners to install heat pumps by offering up to £7,500 towards the cost under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). The grant was last month increased from £5,000 after fewer than 10,000 of an available 30,000 vouchers were redeemed in the first year. But to qualify for the grant, heat pump installations must comply with regulations set out by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) – including a minimum level of noise disturbance to neighbours. It means a heat pump must not generate noise louder than 42 decibels within one metre of a neighbour’s door or window.

Yet, the report, which was presented to the Institute of Acoustics at a conference, found that the top heat pumps from the five main manufacturers, not one device would meet MCS standards on noise unless the unit was at least four metres away.

The authors warned: “Without the MCS there is no BUS grant and, therefore, a likely significant reudction in uptake of heat pumps across England and Wales”

Heat pumps installations also have to comply with MCS standards to be installed without planning permission as a permitted development.

Did you know that in the winter months (October – March), we are unable to get enough Vitamin D from sunlight? It is also really difficult to get enough vitamin D from food. Food Standards Scotland recommends taking a 10 microgram vitamin D supplement daily throughout the winter months. 

Why is this important? 

Vitamin D helps improve bone and muscle health. Some groups are at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency and are recommended to take a supplement year-round. 

These include: 

•pregnant and breastfeeding women

•infants and children under 5 years old

•people who have low or no exposure to the sun, for example those who cover their skin forcultural reasons, are housebound, confined indoors for long periods or live in an institution

•people from minority ethnic groups with dark skin such as those of African, African-Caribbean and south Asian origin, who require more sun exposure to make as muchvitamin D

Support and guidance

Visit the Food Standards Scotland website for more information about the importance of vitamin D. 

It’s just one month until Global Action Plan officially kick off the first year of the Clean Air Night campaign.

The campaign will spotlight three important truths about wood burning – that it harms your wallet, health and the planet. 

The campaign will run for four weeks in the lead up to Clean Air Night on 24 January, with a week that spotlights each of these key truths: 

• Week 1: Introduction to Clean Air Night (13 – 19 December) 
• Week 2: Wood burning harms your wallet (3 – 9 January) 
• Week 3: Wood burning harms the planet (10 – 16 January) 
• Week 4: Wood burning harms your health (17 – 23 January) 

To make it as easy as possible for you to take part in Clean Air Night, Global Action Plan are providing dedicated social media resources for each of these weeks – as well as resources that can be used throughout the campaign and can be accessed here.

A new marketing campaign informing parents, carers and school pupils of the dangers of vaping has been launched by the Scottish Government.

The ‘Take Hold’ marketing campaign will increase awareness of the harms and risks of nicotine addiction associated with vaping, with schools across Scotland provided with digital guidance packs and resources for posters along with radio and outdoor advertising. Its key message is that vapes may quickly become harmfully addictive for children and young people, affecting their concentration, mental health and mood.

It comes as a new Tobacco and Vaping Framework is published, setting out actions which will be taken to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034.

Vaping addiction soon takes hold – NHS inform 

The Scottish Government have published a new Tobacco and Vaping Framework, which sets out actions to be taken to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034.

The Framework for reaching the 2034 goal includes action to raise the age limit for sales of tobacco and plans to improve services to help people quit. In addition, the Scottish Government will continue to review what further action is needed to limit the appeal of vapes to children, young people and non-smokers during the first phase of the framework which will run until November 2025 .

Earlier this month, the UK Government set out its plans for a “smoke-free generation” by phasing out the sale of cigarettes. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill going through Westminster will restrict the sale of tobacco so anyone turning 14 this year or younger will never legally be sold cigarettes. Scottish Ministers are producing their own framework which will complement this, with the cigarette phase-out also taking place in Scotland.

Key Framework actions are listed here Tobacco and Vaping Framework: Roadmap to 2034 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The first 2 year implementation plan actions are list here Tobacco and Vaping Framework: Roadmap to 2034 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and these include an awareness raising campaign on e-cigarettes, work on pack inserts and age of sale, including potentially extending UK legislation to include age of sale for e-cigarettes, price levers, enforcement, review hospital grounds restrictions, and improving transparency and accountability.

The Framework replaces the previous 5-year action plans enacting the 2013 strategy with an overarching Tobacco and Vaping Framework, which will be underpinned by shorter action-focused 2-year implementation periods.

The new action plan was developed through engagement with a working group of public health experts, including ASH Scotland, Public Health Scotland, Cessation coordinators, academics and The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland. Engagement also included views from the Poverty Alliance Scotland and from the 11^th Citizen Panel for Health.