Circular Economy Bill passed
- 14 July 2024
Legislation giving Ministers and local authorities the tools needed to increase reuse and recycling rates, as well as modernise and improve waste and recycling services, has been passed. The Circular Economy Bill will give Ministers the powers to: The measures will be underpinned by support and investment, building on the investments already made through the […]
Public health guidance for cyanobacteria
- 30 June 2024
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has published Public health guidance for cyanobacteria. This guidance provides updated information on the public health risks associated with cyanobacteria. It provides background information about cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins and the occurrence of cyanobacterial incidents in Scotland. This guidance recommends each NHS board area should make a local action plan in collaboration with relevant […]
REHIS News – June 2024
- 23 June 2024
Welcome to the June newsletter. The Institute was pleased to welcome members from the European Federation of Environmental Health, which is a geographical group reporting to the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH), to the office on 14 and 15 May for a series of meetings and networking. The meetings, chaired by Mr Henning Hansen, Denmark and […]
Medical groups call for tighter NO2 limits in Scotland
- 23 June 2024
Three medical groups in Scotland marked Clean Air Day by calling on the Scottish Government to reduce the recommended limits for air pollution in an effort to align them with those of the World Health Organisation. The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE), Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in Scotland and Royal College […]
Housing, Health and Extreme Events Online International Conference – call for papers
- 23 June 2024
Healthier Housing Partnership are organising an international conference and have inviting people to register interest for the event and calling for people to submit papers. More details can be found in the attached document below and here. Why this conference? Extreme events – including heatwaves, flooding, droughts, wild-fires, tsunamis, tornadoes and earthquakes – are occurring […]
E.Coli (STEC) UK outbreak
- 22 June 2024
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has been working with NHS Boards in Scotland, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and other public health agencies across the UK to investigate an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in the UK. As of 18 June, the UKHSA reported 256 confirmed cases in the UK. All currently confirmed cases […]
Study shows majority of all ‘dine in’ dinner deals exceed UK Government calorie guidance
- 21 June 2024
Research from the University of Birmingham has shown that 93% of dinner meal deals exceed the UK Government’s suggested calorie limit for dinner of 600 calories per person. The UK Government launched its ‘One You’ campaign back in 2016, to try and help tackle the obesity epidemic and make the public more aware of their health […]
Cryptosporidium found in supermarket pre-washed vegetables
- 21 June 2024
Cryptosporidium has been discovered in pre-washed vegetables from major supermarkets in Kent. Cryptosporidium was found in 17% of samples of pre-washed vegetables analysed by researchers in the School of Biosciences at the University of Kent. While pre-washed and ready-to-eat vegetables undergo more thorough washing with water containing chlorine disinfectants compared to unpackaged vegetables, Cryptosporidium particles (oocysts) […]
Clean Air Day 2024
- 20 June 2024
Today (20th June) marks Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest campaign on air pollution. Air pollution can harm every organ in your body, causing heart and lung disease, dementia, and strokes. You may be exposed to higher levels of air pollution because of where you live – for example, if you live in a town or […]
Atmospheric sulphur dioxide levels reach historic high in Scotland following Icelandic volcano eruption
- 19 June 2024
The Sýlingarfell volcano in southwest Iceland began erupting last December but the most recent eruption, on May 29th, pushed sulphur dioxide in Scotland to levels not seen since the 1970s. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) national volcanic emissions network first detected an increase in SO2 on the Isle of Lewis on the evening of 30 May. […]
Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh become latest Scottish LEZ cities
- 19 June 2024
Three more Scottish cities have launched their city centre Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in the last month. The new LEZs came into force in Dundee on 30 May, with Aberdeen and Edinburgh introducing them on 1 June, joining Glasgow which came into force last year on 1 June 2023. The significant public health intervention restricts […]
City of Edinburgh Council issue prohibition notices to businesses planning to perform Brazilian Butt Lifts
- 19 June 2024
The City of Edinburgh Council’s Environmental Health team has issued eight Prohibition Notices to businesses and practitioners over three locations planning to perform the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure. The Notices, issued last month, prohibit those involved from undertaking any BBL procedures within any premises or locations within the city of Edinburgh local authority area, until […]
