REHIS News

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 NFU Scotland to roll out the change which will feature ongoing dialogue with farmers and crofters over the coming months.

A couple of letters have been printed in The Herald newspaper regarding the current concerns over the Environmental Health profession. 

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.

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 strategy that sets out how the Scottish Government and its partner organisations propose to reduce air pollution further to protect human health and fulfil Scotland’s legal responsibilities as soon as possible. 

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 and 2014, with 24 standardised maths questions and 34 word-recognition questions.

Researchers believe the results have global relevance, with more than 80% of the world's urban population breathing unsafe levels of air pollution.

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. 

More than a third of farmed fruit and vegetables never reaches supermarket shelves because it is misshapen or the wrong size, research suggests.

Fife Council have launched new fast food vans to help deliver healthy snacks for Fife’s secondary schools.

Hoarding has been classified as a medical disorder for the first time by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Young children in prams may be exposed to up to 60% more pollution than their parents at the kerbside, a study has suggested.