REHIS News

A UK survey, which analysed both the sugar and calorie content of the largest available sizes of hot chocolates and seasonal lattes made with milk and milk alternatives by popular high street chains, allegedly revealed that certain seasonal beverages contain almost as much sugar as three cans of cola.

NHS Fife has published a report on the health impacts of flaring at the Mossmorran plant.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician has released Diet and Healthy Weight statistics.

This is a compendium publication bringing together data mostly already published by various other sources on obesity, diabetes, diet, healthy living awards and sales of soft drinks, confectionery, biscuits, cakes and pastries.

Main findings

·       In 2018, 65% of adults aged 16 and over were overweight, including 28% who were obese. Levels of overweight and obesity for adults aged 16-64 increased between 1995 and 2008, but have remained broadly stable since then.

A single wildfire on peatland in Northern Scotland could have released carbon equivalent to six days' worth of Scotland's total greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, according to new research.

Analysis for WWF by Ricardo estimates the impact of a wildfire on the scale of the one which burnt for almost six days on part of the Flow Country in May this year.
The Flow Country is estimated to store 400 million tonnes of carbon and is under consideration for World Heritage Site status for its globally-rare type of blanket peatland.

Lisa McCann has been installed as the REHIS President for the coming year. David Duffy, who stood down as President, handed over the Chain of Office at the Institute's Annual General Meeting on 15 November in Edinburgh. Congratulations to Lisa, we wish her all the best in her new role.

The New REHIS Council were also elected at the Annual General meeting, you can view Members of the Council here.

Scientists have detected an exotic tick-borne parasite within sheep in the North of Scotland, according to a new study.

The research, by scientists at the University of Glasgow’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, was published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the journal of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). 

Argyll and Bute have issued a food safety warning after 20 tonnes of salmon went missing following a lorry crash.

The salmon disappeared following an accident on the A82 near the Bridge of Orchy where a lorry overturned on 10 November.

Argyll and Bute Council environmental health officers say the salmon might have entered the food chain, is potentially unsafe to eat and should not be consumed.

Anyone who has any of the salmon is advised to dispose of it.

The council said in a statement: "It is potentially unsafe to eat and should not be consumed.

A checklist similar to that used by airline pilots has been developed to help farmers improve farm safety.

The pocket-sized guide to safety critical non-technical skills in farming was created by Dr Amy Irwin and the Applied Psychology and Human Factors Group at the University of Aberdeen.  The aim of the guide is to provide guidance on how to enable each farmer to tailor the guide to produce a bespoke handbook that is specific to them and their farm.

Scottish Water is using earthworms and water fleas to treat waste water as part of an international study which aims to protect and improve resources across the world.

The EU funded project is currently being trialled in 11 different countries including Scotland, measuring the effectiveness of earthworms, water fleas and microalgae as a potential method to treat waste water.

Plastic. It’s a hot topic right now. Kick-started in the mainstream media by the BBC’s Blue Planet 2, hardly a week goes by now without another headline image showing our oceans and beaches being overrun with plastic debris.

It’s never good to see resources being wasted – let alone something that can be widely recycled. It’s worse when you see the damage that our waste can cause to ecosystems and wildlife. But there’s good news. This focus on plastic is having an impact.