Leading the way to a low-carbon future
- 20 September 2018
A national taskforce to advise on how Scotland achieves a carbon-neutral economy has been launched. The Just Transition Commission, a commitment under the Programme for Government, will look at how to maximise opportunities of decarbonisation, in terms of fair work and tackling inequalities, while delivering a sustainable and inclusive labour market. Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham […]
Yoghurts contain high amounts of sugar, study finds
- 20 September 2018
A comprehensive survey of ingredients in yogurts has highlighted high sugar levels in many – particularly organic yogurts and those marketed towards children. Scientists from the Universities of Leeds and Surrey analysed the product information for 921 yogurts available in major UK supermarkets. Their study, published in journal BMJ Open, examined the sugar and nutrient content of […]
Double council tax for 15,000 empty homes
- 16 September 2018
More than 15,000 empty homes have been charged double council tax in an attempt to cut the number of unoccupied properties in Scotland. BBC Scotland has found that some councils are earning over £1 million per year from the powers to charge extra levies on those with empty properties, while others had not used the […]
St Andrew’s drains placed on “a diet” to help tackle fatbergs
- 16 September 2018
Scottish Water is to step up its fight against fatbergs which can cause major flooding and pollution with the launch of a new project. A new project being trialled aims to substantially reduce the number of blockages in the sewer system which occurs when fats, oils and grease (FOG) are poured down drains then combine with […]
The legal case of the snail and the ginger beer
- 16 September 2018
A statue has been unveiled in Paisley to a pioneer of Scottish legal history following a landmark case featuring a snail and ginger beer. May Donoghue was at the centre of a case law Donoghue v Stevenson, involving the snail in the bottle which laid down the foundation of the modern law of negligence. The tale […]
No more exemptions for agricultural burning of waste
- 10 September 2018
The 1 January 2019 will bring an end to the practice of burning most types of agricultural waste on farms, including farm plastics. Ending the exemption follows extensive engagement between the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Government, Zero Waste Scotland, National Farmers Union of Scotland(NFUS) and recycling service providers. SEPA have worked closely with […]
“We must fight for a professional environmental health service”- Letters to The Herald
- 8 September 2018
A couple of letters have been printed in The Herald newspaper regarding the current concerns over the Environmental Health profession. John Crawford past president of REHIS wrote a letter titled “Agenda: Councils must give more prominence to role of environmental health” and was published 13th August 2018. Tom Bell, Chief Executive of REHIS replied to […]
Food fraud: A fifth of meat samples reveal contamination from other animals’ DNA
- 8 September 2018
More than a fifth of meat sample tests in 2017 found DNA from animals not on the labelling, this was revealed following a BBC Freedom Information request to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Out of 665 results from England, Wales and Northern Ireland 145 were partly or wholly made up of unspecified meat. The samples […]
Public and Environmental Health History –an online platform
- 7 September 2018
During the 15th World Congress on Environmental Health on 20–23 March 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand, the ongoing project called ‘Historia Sanitaria’ was presented by Institute of Public and Environmental Health, Slovenia. The presentation is available on IFEH website. “Historia Sanitaria’, a complete guide through sanitary history, is an online platform chronologically recording the landmark events […]
Cleaner Air for Scotland – annual progress report 2017/18 published
- 7 September 2018
Cleaner Air for Scotland’s second annual progress report has been published. This report outlines the progress made in 2017/18 to deliver ‘Cleaner Air for Scotland – The Road to a Healthier Future’, Scotland’s first separate air quality strategy. Cleaner Air for Scotland – The Road to a Healthier Future (CAFS) is a national cross government […]
Air pollution linked to cognitive intelligence, study says
- 7 September 2018
Chronic exposure to air pollution could be linked to cognitive performance, a new study in China suggests. Over four years, mathematics and verbal skills of some 20,000 people in China were monitored by researchers from Beijing's Peking University and Yale University in the US. Researchers tested people of both sexes aged 10 and above between 2010 […]
Quarter of calories are consumed out of home, according to research
- 21 August 2018
Obesity Action Scotland's new research “Chips to Go” has found that the UK consume up to a quarter of their calories out of home. It also found that chips are the most commonly consumed takeaway item in Scotland. Obesity Action Scotland visited 30 outlets offering chips to take away in Glasgow during the last two […]
