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Vol 21 - Number 3 Autumn 2009

Environmental Health Scotland 

® 

The Royal Environmental Health 

Institute of Scotland 

3 Manor Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7DH 

Tel: 0131 225 6999 Fax: 0131 225 3993 Website: www.rehis.org 

Officers of the Institute 

President: Colin Wallace 

Senior Vice-President: Rod House 

Junior Vice-President: Alistair Thomson 

Past President: Robert Howe 

Past President: Bernard Forteath 

Northern Centre Chairman: Karen Foote 

Southern Centre Chairman: Martin MacNiven 

Northern Centre Secretary: Bob Drummond 

Southern Centre Secretary: Andrew McPherson 

Honorary Treasurer: Martin Henry 

Courses Co-ordinator: Martin Keeley 

Members of Council 

Wendy Barrie 

John Beveridge 

Paul Bradley 

Sandy Fraser 

Raymond Hubbocks 

Andrew Jamieson 

Sarah MacLeod-Bonnar 

Lynsey McNair 

Keith McNamara 

Alan Morrison 

Christine Morrison 

Graham Robertson 

John Sleith 

Robert Steenson 

Evonne Tennant 

Honorary Vice-Presidents 

George Georgallas 

Robin Harper MSP 

Kenneth Macintosh MSP 

Stewart Maxwell MSP 

Ann Marie Part 

*** 

Chief Executive: Tom Bell 

Director of Professional Development: vacant 

Training Adviser: Ian McGruther 

Director of Training: Graham Walker 

Training Adviser: Dr Jane Bunting 

2



Volume 21, Number 3 Autumn 2009 

The Journal of The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland 

ISSN 0950-3277 

Environmental Health Scotland is published by the 

Council of The Royal Environmental Health Institute 

of Scotland. 

Editor: Tom Bell 

The views expressed in this Journal are not necessarily 

those of The Royal Environmental Health Institute of 

Scotland, the publisher or the editor. Articles, news 

items or letters are welcomed for publication but the 

publisher reserves the right to edit contributions as the 

editor sees fit. At the editor’s discretion, items submitted 

for publication will be peer reviewed. All material is 

submitted at owner’s risk. The publisher cannot be held 

responsible for loss or damage, however caused. 

Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this 

publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval 

system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, 

electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or 

otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher 

and copyright holder. 

On the cover: Gearing up for the Glasgow 2014 

Commonwealth Games (see page 12). 

CONTENTS 

The President’s View 4 

Land Use Regression Technique for 

Predicting Air Pollution Exposure 5 

Management Committee 10 

The Value of SiLC for the Public Sector 11 

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games - 

An Update 12 

Food Standards Agency News 17 

Introduction to Asbestos Awareness 

Joint Award 18 

Health Protection Scotland News 19 

Developing Links in Environmental Health 

Between Scotland and Malawi - 12 Years 

of Experience 20 

International Swimming Pool and Spa 

Conference 2009 22 

From the Courts - 

North Lanarkshire Council 25 

Impacts of Indoor Air Quality on the 

Health of Pre-existing Asthmatics at Work 

- A Review of Literature and Current 

Guidance 26 

The 2nd All Africa Environmental Health 

Congress, May 2010 - Call for Abstracts 31 

IFEH News 32 

HSE LAU News 34 

Successful Prosecution for Sale of 

Unfit Food 35 

Restaurant Owner Fined £2,250 for 

Poor Hygiene Standards 35 

European Federation of 

Environmental Health 36 

SEPA News 37 

News in Brief 38 

3


THE PRESIDENT’S VIEW 

Colin Wallace 

I am now nearing the end of my Presidential year 

and, as I look back, I realise that it has been an extremely 

busy, varied and interesting time. There have been 

the usual itinerary of Institute business meetings, 

with certain obvious highlights such as 

the Annual Conference in Ayr attended 

by the Minister for Public Health and Sport. 

Another highlight was when I attended the 

annual Strathclyde University BSc (Hons) 

Environmental Health student presentations in 

March as an external assessor. A total of 13 students 

presented their research-based papers covering a 

wide and varied range of subjects, the standard 

of which was extremely high. This event showcased 

the high standard of graduates being turned 

out by the University and reaffirms the need to 

maintain and support the course and to attract new 

students to it. 

An important milestone was the launch, in association 

with Dundee College, of the REHIS Elementary 

Control of Infection Course in March. Again, 

the Minister for Public Health and Sport was present 

and was very supportive of the aims and objectives of 

the course. Another first in April was the presentation 

of the new Introduction to Bivalve Purification 

joint award presented in partnership with Seafish 

at Cairndow on Loch Fyne. I also attended a number 

of events where presentations of qualifications 

have been made to public and voluntary sector 

trainees. These have included the Stirling and South 

Ayrshire Councils. 

However, the most memorable event for me was 

presenting Elementary Food and Health certificates 

to recipients at the Wayside Centre, Glasgow in 

February. This centre’s client base is essentially 

4 

under-privileged and homeless persons, and the 

delight displayed by the recipients in obtaining the 

award, being the first qualification they had ever 

received, was a humbling experience for me. Again 

this reminds us of one of the Institute’s often overlooked, 

charitable aims, to promote Environmental Health 

through education and training to the general public 

in Scotland. 

My activities have not been restricted to national 

boundaries and I have ventured as far afield as 

the Republic of Ireland, Lithuania and Singapore. 

The latter two destinations were in connection 

with the International Federation of Environmental 

Health. Notwithstanding the debilitating effects 

of air travel including unearthly departure times, 

jet lag and acclimatisation, these were extremely 

useful in promoting and discussing Environmental 

Health in a global context. The Federation allows 

us to keep abreast of changing worldwide effects, 

understand continent specific issues, share 

experiences, promote and disseminate best practice 

and prepare for the future. 

In terms of our own future there has been a lot of 

behind the scene work involved in securing a 

permanent home for the Institute. After much 

negotiation and hard work by the Chief 

Executive, Honorary Treasurer and the Institute’s 

Solicitor, we are now the proud owners of new 

premises in Torphichen Street, Edinburgh. 

The premises are equally well located in the 

Haymarket area but will more than meet our current 

and future needs in terms of size, layout and 

flexibility. 

In my first ‘View’, I touched on how much music, 

particularly lyrics, is important to me. Therefore, 

it would only be right for me to finish with another 

musical reference. The song in question is ‘All Good 

Things’ (Gotta Come To An End) from the album 

‘I’m Alive’ by Jackson Browne. It is perhaps fitting 

that I should name check him as he is very much an 

environmental activist. You could do worse than visit 

his website, preferably at the same time as listening 

to his music. 

Footnote: The decision of the Council of the Chartered 

Institute of Environmental Health to establish a 

Scottish Region was taken as this edition of 

Environmental Health Scotland was going to 

press. REHIS regrets this decision and I take this 

opportunity to advise members that a Special 

Resolution relating to this decision will be 

considered at the REHIS AGM on 19th November.


LAND USE REGRESSION TECHNIQUE FOR PREDICTING 

AIR POLLUTION EXPOSURE 

by Dr Deborah Henderson, Dr Iain Beverland and Dr Neil Ferguson 

This article gives an overview of an atmospheric 

pollution exposure assessment technique using 

geographic information systems (GIS) and multiple 

regression, developed to predict historical exposures for 

epidemiological studies. This method would also have 

useful applications in air quality management. For NO 2 

in Glasgow, 1998-99, 75% of the variation in pollutant 

concentrations was explained by the exponential of the 

distance to the edge of the urban area, the altitude and 

the traffi c intensity within 250m of a monitoring site. 

38% of the variation in black smoke concentrations 

in Central Scotland, 1970-79, was explained by the 

length of roads within 250m of a site, the distance to 

the edge of the urban area and the altitude. 

This article also describes the requirements for 

performing this exposure assessment technique and 

outlines some of the issues involved in producing a 

reliable exposure model. 

This PhD research, funded by REHIS and the University 

of Strathclyde, developed models for predicting air 

pollution exposures in Scotland, using geographic 

information systems (GIS) and multiple regression. 

Land use regression exposure assessment involves 

mapping air pollution monitoring sites and possible 

pollution concentration predictor variables (eg, traffic 

flows, housing density) in GIS. Predictor variables 

were calculated using GIS for each monitoring site, 

then multiple regression was used to generate a model 

which can be used to predict pollution concentrations 

at any location in the study area. This method has 

been used before in epidemiological research on air 

pollution and health (Brauer et al, 2003; Briggs et al, 

1997; Briggs et al, 2000; Jerrett et al, 2007). 

The model development stage of this research has been 

described before (Environmental Health Scotland, 

Autumn 2006). Briefly, two-year mean nitrogen 

dioxide (NO 2 

) concentrations were modelled in 

Glasgow City for 1998-99 (n = 62). Decadal mean 

black smoke (BS) concentrations were also modelled 

over Central Scotland for 1970-79 (n = 205) using 

the same method. Various predictor variables were 

tested, mainly emission-related variables, including 

population and household density, traffic (figure 1) and 

length of roads. Some novel emission variables were 

used; namely, postcode density (as a measure of human 

activity in an area; figure 2) and junction density. A 

measure of the advection of clean and dirty air was also 

tested (which, to the author’s knowledge, has not been 

used before): the distance to the edge of the urban area 

(figure 3). Altitude was used as a variable representing 

the dispersion of pollution (figure 4). 

The data were entered into a GIS (MapInfo 

Professional 7.0) and predictor variables calculated 

for each monitoring site. These were entered into 

a statistical software package (SPSS 15.0) and the 

measured pollutant concentrations were modelled 

using the emission, dispersion and advection predictors 

(independent variables). This was done using multiple 

linear regression. The model calculated how well 

the independent variables predicted the pollutant 

concentrations. This was measured by the coefficient 

of determination, R 2 , to demonstrate the percentage 

of the variation in the dependent variable (pollutant 

concentrations) explained by the model (Field, 

2005). 

For NO 2 

in Glasgow, the variables that predicted the 

highest amount of variation in pollution concentrations 

were the exponential of the distance to the edge of 

the urban area, the altitude and the traffic intensity 

within 250m of the monitoring site (table 1). This 

predicted 75% of the variation in NO 2 

concentrations, 

so the model was considered to be reliable. 

Table 1. Multiple regression model for NO 2 

in Glasgow City, 1998-99. 

5


Figure 1. NO 2 

monitoring sites and SPT traffi c fl ow data. 


monitoring sites and postcode units with zoomed view. The small squares visible 

in the zoomed view represent ‘vertical streets’, eg, tower blocks, containing >1 postcode unit. 

Figures 1-6 are subject to © Crown Copyright/database right 2006. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service. 

6



monitoring sites and urban areas. 


monitoring sites and altitude (metres above mean sea level). 

7


Figure 5. Predicted NO 2 

concentrations in Glasgow, 1998-99 (μg/m 3 ). 

Other useful predictor variables included postcodes 

within 300m and junctions within 250m. Figure 5 

shows the surface of predicted pollution concentrations 

for NO 2 

in Glasgow, 1998-99. 

The variables that predicted the highest amount of 

variation in pollution concentrations for the BS model 

were the road length within 250m of the monitoring 

site, the distance to the edge of the urban area and the 

altitude (table 2). Other useful predictor variables 

were the road length within 50m, junctions within 

250m and households within 300m. Figure 6 shows 

the surface of predicted pollution concentrations for 

BS in Central Scotland, 1970-79. 

The best model predicted 38% of the variation in 

BS concentrations, which means that the BS model 

was not very reliable. The main problems with this 

model were that contemporary road and urban edge 

data were used to predict historical BS concentrations 

and that the black smoke measurements from the 

1970s were incomplete with many extended periods 

of missing data. Using contemporary surrogate 

emission and advection data was not ideal, but 

historical road and urban area data were not available. 

Statisticians working on an epidemiological study 

on long-term black smoke exposure and mortality 

(Beverland et al, 2007) predicted the missing 

pollution data using sophisticated imputation methods 

(Yap, 2005), which improved the reliability of 

the pollution concentrations. However, bivariate 

correlations between the BS measurements and each 

predictor variable were weak, which in turn led to a 

model with poor predictive power. 

Ideal conditions for using land use regression modelling 

would be when good quality data for pollution 

concentrations and predictor variables are measured 

during the same time period. 

Table 2. Multiple regression model for BS in Central Scotland, 1970-79. 

8


Figure 6. Predicted BS concentrations in Central Scotland, 1970-79 (μg/m 3 ). 

Requirements for the land use regression 

prediction method 

1. Pollution data 

Monitoring sites need to be in representative locations, 

sampling the full range of concentrations in the study 

area. Sites also need to cover the spatial range of the 

study area. The land use regression method works best 

over large areas, as it can be difficult to predict smallarea 

variations in pollution concentrations, depending 

on the spatial resolution of the input data. 

Missing pollution data can result in unreliable estimates 

of mean concentrations. Also, there need to be enough 

monitoring sites to perform the multiple regression 

analyses. As a general rule of thumb, there should be 

at least 15 cases per predictor (Field, 2005). So, if there 

were three predictor variables, measurements from 45 

monitoring sites would be required. 

2. Predictor data 

High quality predictor data are required. The Ordnance 

Survey have many sources of geographical and land 

use data that can be used as predictors, eg, altitude, 

urban edges, roads, addresses, postcodes. 

For traffic data, direct observations are likely to 

be accurate, but modelled traffic data may cover 

more roads. It would be best to have traffic data 

covering as many roads as possible within the same 

time period as the pollution measurements. If predictor 

data are not of adequate geographical resolution, 

it can be difficult to model variations in pollutant 

concentrations, especially over small areas. 

This research found that, for most emission 

variables collected in ‘buffer zones’, variables 

measured in radii of up to 300m from the monitoring 

site provided the best predictions of pollution 

concentrations (in terms of highest R 2 for the multiple 

regression model). 

3. GIS software 

The functions used are fairly simple. Correspondingly 

staff with relatively elementary competence in using 

GIS could collect and interpret the data. MapInfo 

was used in this study, but most other GIS software 

packages could be used. 

4. Statistical software 

Multiple linear regression was used, which is a widely 

used technique available in many statistical software 

packages (SPSS was used in this study). 

The land use regression method of exposure 

assessment requires the development of models 

by collecting predictor data using GIS, then 

deriving models using statistical software. Once a 

reliable model has been derived, predictor data can 

be collected for any point in the study area and the 

model can be used to calculate an exposure estimate 

at that point. 

9


A benefit of using GIS is that independent variables 

(figures 1-4) and predicted pollution concentrations 

(figures 5 and 6) can be displayed as a map. This can 

be useful for visualising the spatial pattern of pollution. 

Areas requiring special attention can be identified, even 

if they are distant from existing pollution monitors. 

The use of maps provides a ready means of checking 

the plausibility of predicted pollution patterns. 

The predicted pollutant concentrations can be used 

for local air quality management, or for health 

surveillance activities. Land use regression modelling 

is not expensive and it uses relatively simple GIS and 

statistical techniques. Many local authorities and other 

organisations will already have the necessary data and 

software. Correspondingly, preliminary exposure 

assessments could be done ‘in-house’, rather than by 

employing consultants. 

Land use regression methods produce results 

comparable to dispersion modelling (Cyrys et al, 

2005) but may give better results when input data 

for dispersion modelling are missing or incomplete 

(Jerrett et al, 2005). Also, land use regression methods 

have been shown to predict NO 2 

better than other 

methods, such as kriging (a geostatistical method) and 

hybrid approaches (Jerrett et al, 2005). 

Conclusion 

Land use regression is a relatively simple, cost-effective 

approach to assessing exposure to air pollution, and 

local authorities and other organisations may already 

have the necessary data and software to use this 

exposure assessment technique. The approach may 

out-perform other exposure assessment methods, 

and is likely to provide a complementary approach 

to atmospheric dispersion modelling to predict and 

interpret geographical variations in air pollution 

concentrations. 

Pollution concentrations can be predicted for any 

location in the study area and spatial patterns of pollution 

can be viewed as a map. The outputs from land use 

regression modelling are potentially useful in local air 

quality management or health surveillance activities. 

References 

References are available on request. 

Acknowledgements 

The author extends warm thanks to REHIS and the 

University of Strathclyde for funding this research and 

to Dr Iain Beverland and Dr Neil Ferguson for their 

supervision and guidance. 

by Rod House, Committee Chairman 

*** 

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 

The usual wide range of matters were discussed at 

the June meeting of the Management Committee and 

included the following: 

An application from Alison Mackay for a Travelling 

Scholarship was considered and it was agreed to award 

£1,000 to her for her extended educational/CPD trip 

to Malawi. 

It was agreed that Colin Wallace would represent the 

Institute at the Scottish Accident Prevention Council 

Conference in Peebles on 7/8 November and that Colin 

Wallace and Alistair Thomson would represent the 

Institute at the Faculty of Public Health Conference 

in Peebles on 12/13 November. 

The committee considered the purchase of a new 

headquarters and it was agreed that the preferred option 

was to proceed with the purchase. It was agreed that 

the President, Treasurer and Chief Executive would 

progress the purchase of a property in Torphichen 

Street in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh. It was also 

agreed that a Project Manager would be appointed to 

oversee the refurbishment of the new office following 

completion of purchase. 

The Chief Executive confirmed that the Annual Awards 

Ceremony will take place on the evening of Wednesday 

18 November. The annual ‘free-to-members’ CPD 

training event will take place on the morning of 

Thursday 19 November and the AGM will take place 

on the afternoon of Thursday 19 November. The format 

for these events will be as last year and the venue will 

be the Apex International Hotel, The Grassmarket, 

Edinburgh. 

The Chief Executive reported that progress with the 

development and relaunch of the website continued to 

be slower than had been hoped for. A further meeting 

will take place shortly and it is hoped that positive 

progress will be reported at the next meeting of the 

committee. 

The Chief Executive reported that he had taken the 

opportunity to review the content of the ‘Guidance 

for Council Members’ document in the light of 

recent advice from the Office of the Scottish Charity 

Regulator. The role of the Charity Trustee has also 

been re-emphasised as has the guidance on the conduct 

of Charity Trustees. 

10


by Nicola Paton 

THE VALUE OF SiLC FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR 

The Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC) registration 

scheme is aimed at experienced practitioners within the 

brownfield regeneration and land assessment sectors, 

across a range of disciplines working in this sector, 

including Chartered Environmental Health Officers 

(EHOs) and Contaminated Land Officers (CLOs). 

The scheme has the support of a number of key 

professional institutions, the most recent of which is 

the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland. 

As a supporting institution and member of the SiLC 

Professional and Technical Panel, REHIS continues 

to demonstrate its commitment to its members within 

the brownfield industry. 

Whilst the SiLC scheme was initially designed as a 

qualification for the sign-off of the Land Condition 

Record, it has developed progressively, establishing an 

important role in improving quality and standards across 

the industry. SiLC is now regarded as a qualification 

which demonstrates competency, for example, the use 

of SiLCs is a requirement for specific areas of project 

work for some government agencies, and significantly is 

now being required by some commercial organisations 

and financial institutions for pre-qualification. As the 

registration scheme progresses, it is important that 

Chartered EHOs, EHOs and CLOs are aware of the 

benefits of SiLCs within project teams and mirror the 

private sector in including SiLC registration within 

their development plans. 

Currently, one of the key areas of work for the 

SiLC Professional and Technical Panel in 

continuing to address the needs of the industry and 

to promote SiLC as the status practitioners in the 

sector is the production of a Skills Development 

Framework. REHIS is involved in the Skills 

Development Framework, not only through its 

representation on the SiLC Professional and 

Technical Panel, but, also, as a member of the 

Skills Development Framework Steering Group. 

A shortage of diverse skills in the brownfield 

sector has already been recognised in the National 

Brownfield Strategy and, as a result, there is a 

need to develop and improve knowledge and 

experience for all those practising in the field of 

land condition. The Skills Development Framework 

is a capability-based system which will complement 

existing institutional frameworks in supporting 

an individual’s career development; from graduate 

through to chartered and senior level membership 

status of a professional organisation, and eventually 

to SiLC registration. The Skills Development 

Framework could then be applied for the 

consideration of developing a tiered entry procedure 

to SiLC status for professionals who are at earlier 

stages in their careers. The Framework will be issued 

to a range of advisory agencies and businesses for 

consultation this autumn and published by the end of 

the year. 

By implementing a structured framework to assist 

career progression and assess experience, the longer 

term vision is to gain wider recognition for the SiLC 

accreditation as an auditable ‘sign off’ process for a 

range of potential applications. For example, the use 

of a ‘Soil Status Report’ referred to in the proposed 

European Soil Framework Directive has been 

suggested for land transactions where polluting 

activities have taken place. Importantly the Directive 

also raises the point of who is capable of providing 

such reports. Whilst no doubt there will be further 

changes to the Directive before it is implemented in 

the UK, there is clearly synergy with the existing Land 

Condition Record and SiLC scheme. 

Government advisory panels and trade organisations 

serving the sector have long identified a need for 

competent professionals dealing with a wide range 

of technical issues. As such, there is a role for 

EHOs and CLOs to ensure we attain higher 

standards across the industry, including by actively 

supporting the SiLC scheme which has the potential 

to deliver these aims. 

If you would like further information on the SiLC 

registration scheme or SiLC training days, please 

visit www.silc.org.uk. Alternatively, please contact 

Nicola Paton, REHIS’s representative on the SiLC 

Professional and Technical Panel, by e-mail to 

nicola.paton@uk.ngrid.com. 

Nicola Paton is the Infrastructure Manager with 

National Grid Property Limited, is a Chartered 

Environmental Health Offi cer and is registered as a 

Specialist in Land Condition. 

11


GLASGOW 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES - AN UPDATE 

by Chris Dalrymple, Team Leader, Land and Environmental Services, Glasgow City Council 

On 9 November 2007 in Sri Lanka, Mike Fennell, the 

President of the Commonwealth Games Federation 

announced that: 

“The city that will host the 2014 Commonwealth Games 

will be Glasgow”. 

Joyful pictures of celebrations in Glasgow, Scotland 

and Sri Lanka were beamed across the world as the 

realisation set in that Glasgow had won the right to 

host the 20th Commonwealth Games. 

Once the dust had settled the following day, Glasgow 

City Council, the Scottish Government and the 

Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland set about 

the preparations to host the largest sporting event that 

Scotland can ever hope to hold. 

Over 18 months have passed since then and also since 

the last article in the REHIS journal on the 

Commonwealth Games (Vol 19, No 3). The preparations 

are moving on apace with major projects now underway 

such as the M74 extension, the East End Regeneration 

Route, land remediation of the National Indoor Sports 

Arena (NISA) and Velodrome site, site investigation 

of the land for the Athletes’ Village, establishing the 

mountain biking course at Cathkin Braes and the 

groundworks for the new Entertainment Arena at 

the SECC. 

Environmental Sub Groups and Structure 

As the environmental issues are so cross cutting, 

it was essential to set up a structure to ensure they 

are being considered and the commitments within 

the bid are being met. Environmental Health will 

have a key consultancy role throughout to ensure 

aspirational and legislative requirements are met. 

The Organising Committee (a committee given the task 

of ensuring a world-class Games worthy of Glasgow 

and Scotland) was not immediately in place therefore 

responsibility fell to Glasgow City Council to initiate 

the process. Four main delivery steering groups were 

formed for Culture, Village, Venues and Transport and 

Environment (table 1). 

The environmental commitments were to be overseen 

in the latter group but more specifically discussion took 

place in the following sub groups: 

Environment Sub Group - Chaired by Glasgow City 

Council and the main group for ensuring environmental 

commitments are met. Attended by relevant partners, 

eg, Scottish Government, SEPA, SNH, Scottish Water, 

North Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council 

and the Organising Committee. 

Environment Forum - Chaired by the Scottish 

Government, with the remit to offer advice and challenge 

the sustainability and environmental credentials of the 

Games. Members include NGOs, eg, WWF, Friends 

of the Earth, RSPB, Soil Association and BTCV. 

Greener Legacy Sub Group - Chaired by Historic 

Scotland with the remit to ensure there is a Greener 

Legacy for Scotland from the Games. A Scottish 

Government legacy plan will be launched at the end of 

Summer 2009 beside a Glasgow City Council legacy 

plan detailing the benefits for Glasgow. 

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) 

Within the Candidate File, the Games were committed 

to undergo a Strategic Environmental Assessment 

(SEA) under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) 

Regulations 2005. A meeting was undertaken with 

the Statutory Consultees (SEPA, SNH and Historic 

Scotland) and it was decided that the SEA would 

be better done ‘in house’ to allow the Organising 

Committee (OC) more ownership of the document. As 

a result, Glasgow City Council, Environmental Health 

and Trading Standards carried out a scoping report on 

behalf of the OC and this was passed over in May 2009. 

The report will be sent out for consultation in Summer 

2009 with the full SEA (Environmental Report) being 

completed by the end of 2010. 

Sustainability Plan 

Environmental Health within Land and Environmental 

Services has devised a Sustainability Plan/Policy 

for the Commonwealth Games to ensure that 

12


Table 1. 

sustainability (and the three primary factors of social, 

economic and environmental factors) remains at the 

forefront of planning and implementation. 

This plan will hopefully ensure ‘a green Games in the 

dear green place’ with the seven key themes in the 

document being: 

• Improving Health 

• Transport 

• Community Benefits 

• Biodiversity and Open Spaces 

• Low Carbon and tackling Climate Change 

• Legacy 

• Low Waste Games. 

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) 

Glasgow’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games 

include admirable aspirations regarding the Games’ 

contribution to health improvement. 

‘This investment will...contribute to the 

key objectives of improving the health of our 

population particularly around physical activity, 

smoking control and the prevention of obesity. 

These in turn will contribute also to overall levels 

of confidence, well-being and mental health... 

For the local community increased pride in their 

city, renewed confi dence...an ability to be part of a 

major initiative and a demonstration of... more 

sustainable ways of living will all be vital...’ 

(Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Candidate 

City File) 

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is an approach 

that allows decision-makers at all levels to consider 

the potential impacts of decisions on health and 

health inequalities. It can be applied to transport, 

economic development, education, housing, 

regeneration, etc, all of which have an influence 

on the health and well-being of the population. HIA 

recognises that ‘health is a state of complete physical, 

mental and social well-being and not merely the 

absence of disease or infirmity’ (World Health 

Organisation, 1946). 

HIA employs a variety of methods to examine a 

broad range of potential health effects of the 

implementation of a plan, which may or may not be 

aimed at influencing the health of the population. 

The approach has its origins in environmental 

13


impact assessment, but considers a broader range of 

influences on health than the environment and also 

assesses the distribution of the effects among the 

population. Likely positive effects are weighed up 

against likely negative effects and evidence-based 

suggestions are made to enhance the positive while 

mitigating the negative. 

A Health Impact Assessment Scoping event was 

held at Celtic Park on 29 August 2009 and since then 

consultation has taken place through workshops, 

and over 2,000 Glaswegians contributed by 

completing the Glasgow Household questionnaire. 

As a result the HIA document is progressing to allow 

actions to be drawn up with the relevant lead partner 

being put in place to carry this forward. 

Progress and Problems 

Since the Candidate File was completed and 

submitted on 9 May 2007, a lot has changed with 

regards to the economic climate in Scotland and 

the world which couldn’t have been predicted 

during the bid preparations. This will obviously have 

a bearing on the Commonwealth Games, nevertheless 

the Games and major projects must proceed. 

1. As many people in our profession are aware, 

when money is tight, environmental factors 

are quite often the first to go to try to save 

money. Every effort is being made to ensure 

this is not the case for the Commonwealth 

Games. A commitment was made that 

Glasgow would host a green Games which 

were low waste and low carbon - this will still 

be achieved. 

2. The predominantly vacant Athletes’ Village 

site has also been targeted as a major fly tipping 

site for used tyres. Every effort has been 

made to catch the fly tipper including covert 

cameras but to no avail and the tyres have been 

cleared on several occasions at a cost of over 

£30,000. The area which is now being worked 

on should be secure with regards to access. 

3. One of the major tasks facing Land and 

Environmental Services is ensuring that all 

commitments are being met in every project. 

The environment is not a set project like the 

M74 or Athletes’ Village development and 

cannot be measured, as such, with a distinct 

end point. The environment and the 

commitments therein are cross cutting over all 

aspects of the Commonwealth Games. 

River Clyde Environmental Project 

Following early discussions from the Environment 

Sub Group, an idea was to use the River Clyde 

(and associated area including cycle paths and banks), 

an obvious focal point for the Athletes’ Village, 

as a potential environmental project. 

Although still in its infancy, a project group has been set 

up with key partners with an interest in the River such as 

Glasgow City Council (Development and Regeneration 

Services (DRS) and Land and Environmental Services 

(LES)), Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network, 

South Lanarkshire Council, SNH, Clyde Gateway and 

SEPA involved. 

Several meetings have taken place to try to establish, 

amongst other things, a vision statement and potential 

funding for the project. 

The vision statement reads: 

‘The Riverside Project will use the Commonwealth 

Games as a lever/catalyst to bring together key partners 

to create an attractive, publicly accessible network of 

green spaces allowing access to and along the River 

Clyde (and wider communities) with the area around 

the Athletes’ Village being a focal point. 

The project will look to improve access, pedestrian 

and cycle routes, aesthetics and safety as well as being 

designed to protect the integrity of the Wildlife Corridor 

whilst enhancing biodiversity through the management 

and creation of key habitats, all for the benefi t of people 

and wildlife.’ 

Close collaboration is required with the successful 

consortia for the Athletes’ Village as it is noted that 

the designs only extend to the edge of the River Clyde 

cycle path. 

The project will look at three main aspects: 

• the riverbank (dangerous trees and invasive 

species) 

• the cycle path and connective routes to local 

communities 

• access and use of the River Clyde. 

Athletes’ Village 

The 35 hectare site in Dalmarnock running along 

the River Clyde will be a focal point for the 

Commonwealth Games. It is expected to be an exemplar 

for sustainability and design with all homes meeting 

the Building Research Establishment Environmental 

Assessment Method (BREEAM) standard of 

excellence. 

14


Glasgow City Council’s Development and 

Regeneration Services are leading on delivering 

the Athletes’ Village and have decided to go for 

competitive dialogue tender as their preferred route 

to find a developer. Due to the economic crisis many 

developers have banded together to form consortia. 

From originally having four, through the dialogue 

process this was reduced to three with the preferred 

developer, City Legacy being announced in July 

2009. This is a consortia consisting of companies 

such as Davis Langdon, RMJM, Cruden Estates, 

McTaggart and Mickel, Citybuilding and CCG. The 

developers will be on site in October 2010 with an 

Environmental Impact Assessment being carried out 

beforehand. 

The site is currently being investigated with 

a remediation strategy being drawn up as Glasgow 

City Council have promised that the site will be 

‘cleaned as appropriate and ready for use’. 

Having assessed plans for the site, the environmental 

credentials for City Legacy were very strong with 

a district heating supply, increased greenspace, 

improvements to biodiversity, a ‘unique’ SUDS 

solution, 10% recycled waste by content, responsible 

sourcing (sustainable procurement), waste 

minimisation and recycling evident throughout 

their plans. 

National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) and Sir Chris 

Hoy Velodrome 

Since the last article in the REHIS journal, not only 

has the economics everywhere changed but the 

Beijing Olympics have come and gone with 

some outstanding performances. As a result of 

his performance, the cycling velodrome will now 

be named after the multi gold winning athlete, 

Sir Chris Hoy. 

An aerial picture of groundworks being undertaken 

for the NISA and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. 

A planning application has been received for the 

development allowing Land and Environmental 

Services to ensure that the environmental commitments 

are being met. Work has begun on the site with 

the site being remediated and groundworks being 

undertaken. 

An artist’s impression of the NISA 

and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. 

A slight delay occurred due to the presence of a 

small amount of asbestos on a site sold to a developer 

where some of the soil came from the NISA site. 

The area was re-sampled and asbestos was found in only 

a few locations with levels noted to be satisfactory. 

ARUP Scotland, who were appointed by Culture 

and Sport Glasgow to act as consultants with regards 

to design and sustainability, are ensuring the building 

is sustainable and achieves the relevant standards of 

SPP6 on Renewable Energy, PAN 84, and Section 

6 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 with 

regards to the energy (implemented 1 May 2007). 

Some of the measures taken to ensure these are met 

include: 

• reducing energy by passive design and building 

orientation 

• water metering supply and conservation (aerated 

showers/taps, dual flush toilets) 

• sustainable materials, eg, sustainable timber 

• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). 

Entertainment Arena at SECC 

A new Entertainment Arena is being designed and 

built in the south-east corner of the SECC site which 

will hold 14,500 spectators. The groundworks have 

been completed and seven companies have tendered 

to build the Arena. It is anticipated that they will 

be on site in late Summer 2009 and finished by the 

end of 2011. 

15


An artist’s impression of the 

Entertainment Arena at the SECC. 

To ensure the Arena is meeting the environmental 

commitments, meetings have been undertaken and it 

is noted that: 

• SECC have commissioned ARUP to ensure 

Arena is up to BREEAM standard very good/ 

excellent 

• working with Scottish and Southern Energy 

with regards to ground source heat pumps and 

using the energy from boreholes to help with 

heating/cooling of the Arena 

• 90% of the building façade will be made up 

of ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) thus 

reducing energy costs (the same material as used 

in the Swimming Cube in Beijing). 

Cathkin Braes 

The mountain bike course which is being prepared at 

Cathkin Braes is the project which is furthest along 

with regards to venues for the Commonwealth Games. 

Four courses are being designed within the country 

park (green, blue, red and black) with each getting 

progressively more difficult. Test events will be run 

on all trails with the first successful one having taken 

place on 9 August 2009. 

As the country park benefits from having the status of 

being a ‘Site of Importance for Nature Conservation’ 

it was extremely important that all habitats were not 

only considered and protected, but that biodiversity was 

improved. Glasgow City Council’s Local Biodiversity 

Action Plan recognises the importance of species such as 

the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Butterfly), Skylark 

and Reed Bunting and plant species such as Burnetsaxifrage, 

all of which can be found in the country 

park. The Braes also incorporates a wide range of 

local habitats including marsh, scrub, grassland, 

hedgerows and woodlands. 

As a result, and after close consultation with Land and 

Environmental Services Biodiversity and Conservation 

Officers, some of the planned routes were altered 

to ensure no conflicts were met. After receiving 

expert advice it was noted that improvements could 

be made including the establishment of wildflower 

meadows following the increased cutting and lifting of 

grass and also improved drainage, thus keeping visitors 

on designated paths and avoiding sensitive areas. 

It is anticipated that once completed Cathkin Braes 

will be one of the best mountain bike trails in the UK 

allowing scenic and iconic views of Glasgow from the 

southern elevated position. 

Conclusion 

23 July 2014 (opening ceremony) seems a distance 

away; after all there is still a year until Delhi hosts 

the 19th Commonwealth Games in 2010. However, 

if the last two years are a benchmark, the next five are 

going to come and go very quickly. 

All of the key partners are striving to ensure that all 

commitments are met, with Glasgow City Council’s 

Environmental Health and Trading Standards at the 

forefront of planning and delivery. It is a massive 

challenge to ensure the growing environmental 

aspirations are not only met, but exceeded to allow 

Glasgow 2014 to be declared a low carbon, low waste, 

environmentally friendly Games. 

The key commitments within the Candidate City File 

are being met, the challenge remains to ensure that 

this continues up to, during and after the 

Commonwealth Games, leaving Glasgow and Scotland 

with an environmental legacy to be proud of. 

For more information visit www.glasgow2014.com. 

*** 

ASBESTOS IN GARDENS, 

a REAL RISK TO HEALTH 

(IOM/REHIS joint course) 

Institute of Occupational 

Medicine Headquarters, Riccarton, Edinburgh 

1.30pm, Tuesday 27 October 2009 

Full details from: 

Emma Michalski, telephone: 0131 449 8006, 

or e-mail: emma.michalski@iom-world.org. 

16


FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY NEWS 

Views wanted on front of pack nutrition labelling 

The independent study which evaluated front of 

pack (FOP) labelling in the UK found that shoppers 

would benefit from a single FOP scheme and that 

the most effective label in terms of consumer 

comprehension and preference includes the words 

high, medium and low’, traffic light colours and 

percentage of guideline daily amount (GDA). 

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently 

launched a formal consultation to gather views 

on the practical issues which need to be resolved 

for an integrated FOP approach combining these 

three elements to work in real life settings and help 

consumers to make healthier choices. The consultation 

also seeks views on the related costs and benefits 

as identified in the draft Impact Assessment. 

The consultation will last for 14 weeks concluding 

on 5 November and its findings will be discussed 

further by the Agency Board before it makes 

recommendations to Ministers. 

The independent research was published in May 

by a group of independent experts which set up and 

managed the study. The report was the culmination 

of nearly 18 months of robust scientific research, 

which looked at consumer understanding and use of 

FOP nutrition labelling. Both the study methodology 

and the final report have been peer reviewed. 

The consultation documents can be viewed on the FSA’s 

website as follows:http://www.food.gov.uk/ 

news/newsarchive/2009/jul/fopconsult. 

Agency launches consultation on reducing saturated 

fat and added sugar in key foods 

On 28 July 2009, the FSA launched a consultation 

on its proposals to introduce voluntary 

recommendations for food manufacturers for reductions 

in saturated fat and added sugar and increased 

availability of smaller single-portion sizes in a number 

of key foods - biscuits, cakes, pastries, buns, chocolate 

confectionery and soft drinks. 

The proposals will also encourage industry to increase 

the proportion of marketing budgets allocated to 

healthier options. 

FSA’s work to encourage industry to reformulate and 

reduce portion sizes will focus on those foods that 

will help deliver real public health benefits. 

The Agency is also asking industry to prioritise 

making reductions in their biggest selling products for 

maximum impact. The first phase of this work will 

focus on various sweet foods and treats. Later in the 

year there will be further consultation on dairy and 

meat products and savoury snacks. 

In February 2008 the Agency published its Saturated 

Fat and Energy Intake Programme, which outlined 

the actions needed to help consumers reduce saturated 

fat in their diet and balance the amount of calories 

they consume with their needs. The Agency’s 

programme identified four areas for action: 

• improving consumer awareness and understanding 

of healthy eating with particular focus on the 

impact of saturated fat on health 

• encouraging promotion and uptake of healthier 

options 

• encouraging accessibility of smaller food portion 

sizes 

• encouraging voluntary reformulation of 

mainstream products to reduce saturated fat and 

energy. 

Earlier this year the Agency ran a media campaign 

across the UK raising awareness of the health risks 

from eating too much saturated fat along with 

supporting advice on how to cut down. 

Once the consultation is complete, comments will 

be taken into account and a summary of responses 

will be published. It is anticipated that the final 

recommendations will be published by the end of 

the year. 

Please see the consultation at: http://www.food.gov. 

uk/news/newsarchive/2009/jul/satfatconsult. 

17


INTRODUCTION TO ASBESTOS AWARENESS JOINT AWARD 

by Graham Walker, Director of Training 

Asbestos must be properly managed to prevent 

people dying from asbestos-related diseases in 

the future. Workers who carry out building 

maintenance and repair are particularly at risk. 

Each year 1,000 people who worked in such trades 

die from past exposures to asbestos fibres - and these 

workers are still at risk. According to Health and 

Safety Executive figures, half a million commercial 

buildings still contain asbestos. 

The Institute and Bluefin Insurance Services Ltd have 

developed an Asbestos Awareness joint award which 

is scheduled for 4-6 guided learning hours. 

The purpose of the course is to inform the participants 

(and their potential employer or employees) 

about asbestos, its health effects, possible locations 

within a building structure and how to acquire 

documented evidence of its existence in premises. 

This information will aid the protection of relevant 

persons and help them to meet their legal duties 

with regard to asbestos and the Control of Asbestos 

Regulations 2006. 

The course covers a basic level and does not qualify 

a successful candidate to sample, consult or teach 

about, repair or remove asbestos. It is designed to 

aid and promote awareness and not give a technical 

competency for any such work that would involve 

the disturbance of asbestos-based products or giving 

advice about them. 

Asbestos is the single largest cause of occupational 

death in our country and, in the hierarchy of risk, 

this places a devastating loss to our population. 

Furthermore in nearly all cases asbestos exposure 

can be avoided as the technology and safe systems of 

work are available; a lack of knowledge or ignorance 

can be attributed to the mass of incidents that have 

and continue to occur. 

Who should attend? 

Potential candidates include any person who carries 

out building or maintenance work on a building 

that is non-commercial and pre-dates the year 2000, 

or that manages a building that is non-commercial 

and pre-dates the year 2000, or is likely to come into 

contact with asbestos-based materials during the 

ourse of their work. This leaves a large amount of 

people that need asbestos awareness training and the 

importance is to raise such awareness and develop 

a basic competency to avoid a lack of knowledge 

causing more harm. 

Pam Hargraves receives her Asbestos Awareness 

joint award certifi cate from Graham Walker. 

There is a legal requirement for information, 

instruction and training within the Control of 

Asbestos Regulations 2006, Regulation 10. 

This course is designed to aid duty holders to fulfil 

their legal responsibilities. 

Enforcement officers would also benefit from this 

course as a refresher. Effective enforcement of the 

regulations will reduce the potential for exposure 

to asbestos fibres, and lead to raising awareness by 

giving advice and by ensuring that companies fulfil 

their duties. 

The courses are delivered by presenters with 

qualifications and experience in health and safety 

who have been recruited by Bluefin and approved by 

the Institute. 

Course Content 

1. Introduction 

The history of asbestos, the problems 

of asbestos-based materials and why we 

must work together to safeguard ourselves and 

others. 

2. Legislation 

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 

and the liabilities and responsibilities of 

individuals, employers and duty holders. 

Asbestos management plans and other 

applicable legislation. 

18


The responsibilities of employers and duty 

holders to employees under the Health and Safety 

at Work etc Act 1974 and the Hazardous Waste 

Regulations 2005. The potential liabilities of 

duty holders, of employers and employees if 

the exposure to asbestos is not controlled and 

the requirement of suitable training is not met. 

3. Properties, uses and potential effects to 

health 

Properties of asbestos and the risk to health. 

4. Use of asbestos in the construction industry 

The uses and locations of asbestos-based 

materials within a building. 

5. Risks of exposure to asbestos containing 

materials and methods of managing 

that risk 

The risks and management techniques in 

dealing with asbestos, work that requires 

a licence. 

Learning outcomes 

There is an assessment at the end of the course. To 

successfully pass the course a candidate must: 

1. understand the importance of legislation relating 

to asbestos 

2. understand the main types and properties of 

asbestos and the potential health effects 

3. review the asbestos-based products that were 

used in construction 

4. understand the importance of asbestos 

management techniques. 

For further information contact Graham Walker, 

Director of Training. 

*** 

HEALTH PROTECTION SCOTLAND NEWS 

by Rod House, Consultant in Environmental Health, Health Protection Scotland 

Influenza A(H1N1)v Response 

From April through to July this year, Health Protection 

Scotland (HPS) activated and operated its emergency 

response plan and co-ordinated Scotland’s response to 

the spread of Influenza A(H1N1)v. While the response 

was challenging, HPS continued to operate business 

as usual and supported NHS boards and local 

authorities across a wide range of issues during the 

period. We are now planning for the anticipated 

increase in activity from the autumn onwards. 

Good Places, Better Health 

The Scottish Government’s programme linking 

environment and health was launched in late 2008. 

HPS is a key partner in the programme and will be 

working with stakeholders from NHS boards, local 

authorities and other partner agencies in delivering 

the goals and objectives set out in the Implementation 

Plan. Work has now started on this programme 

and HPS is supporting the initial projects relating to 

childhood obesity and injuries. 

Advice and Guidance 

HPS, through the Health Protection Network, now 

has agreement to form an Expert Group to prepare 

Draft Guidance on the International Health Regulations 

2005 and the port health function. 

Due to the business pressures on HPS and NHS 

boards in relation to the continued work on Influenza 

A(H1N1)v, the Health Protection Network has 

been suspended. The Port Health Expert Group, 

however, will fast track guidance as much of the 

preparatory work has been completed with the issue 

of subject-specific guidance over the past 

three months in support of our response to 

Influenza A(H1N1)v. 

Scottish Government Working Groups 

HPS continues to support the Scottish Government 

administered Short-Life Working Group on 

the Future Role of the Environmental Health 

Profession in Scotland and is looking forward to the 

final outcome and report from the valuable work of 

this Group. 

We are also participating in the various working 

groups set up to prepare guidance for the Public 

Health etc (Scotland) Act 2008. Work is now 

completed on the guidance and, as members may 

be aware, the timetable has been brought forward 

in response to current events. The Act is now coming 

into operation in October 2009 and guidance will 

be in place to meet this timetable. 

19


DEVELOPING LINKS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BETWEEN 

SCOTLAND AND MALAWI - 12 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 

by A M Grimason (University of Strathclyde), T D Morse (University of Malawi) and T H Bell (REHIS) 

Dr Tracy Morse, a Scottish Environmental Health Offi cer who has been working as Project Manager for 

the University of Strathclyde’s Scotland Chikwawa Health Initiative in the Chikwawa area to the south of Malawi, 

presented the following paper at two sessions of the Scotland Malawi Partnership Health Conference which was 

held in Edinburgh in June this year. The Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) is a civil society organisation which 

works closely with, but is separate from, the Scottish Government. Developed from a Strathclyde University project, 

a Co-operation Agreement between the Scotland and Malawi Governments was signed in 2005 and the SMP became 

fully operational with over 300 members. The SMP adds value to members’ work by disseminating information, 

facilitating networks, promoting best practice, sharing learning, raising awareness and reducing duplication. 

Further information on the work of the SMP can be found at http://www.scotland-malawipartnership.org. 

A higher education link between the Departments 

of Environmental Health, University of Strathclyde 

(UoS) and the University of Malawi - Polytechnic 

(UoM) instigated in 1997 has resulted in an effective 

and productive network in the field of environmental 

health between a variety of Scottish and Malawian 

institutions. 

Both departments have collaborated on a variety 

of research programmes at both undergraduate and 

postgraduate level and have undertaken capacity 

building programmes for higher education development 

and professional development. To develop this 

collaboration the link received funding from two 

Higher Education Links from the British Council 

(1997-2003) and two Development Partnerships 

in Higher Education (Department for International 

Development; DfID) (2004-2010) links with the 

Departments of Environmental Health and Civil 

Engineering, UoM. The success of the initial links 

paved the way for the UoS Malawi Millennium Project 

(UoS MMP) (http://www.strath.ac.uk/malawi/) and 

culminated in the establishment of the Centre for 

Water, Sanitation, Health and Alternative Technology 

Development (WASHTED) at the UoM in 2003 

(http://www.poly.ac.mw/centres/washted). As a result 

of a Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) 

Institutional Capacity Grant awarded to WASHTED 

in 2004, the Centre has six academic members of 

staff from the Departments of Environmental Health, 

Mechanical and Civil Engineering undertaking 

collaborative research with UoS staff on a variety 

of water, sanitation and health projects (http://www. 

ifeh.org/magazine/ifeh-magazine- 2008_v10_n2_ 

Congress_Edition_ 2008.pdf); some of which have 

led to the awards of PhD. To reciprocate and help 

develop professional capacity at the Centre and UoM, 

the UoS MMP granted a further five fee waivers to 

UoM academic members of staff to pursue MPhil 

degrees at Strathclyde in similar areas. WASHTED has 

now aligned its research and training capabilities with 

those of the Malawi Ministry of Irrigation and Water 

Development and the needs of development partners 

using skills developed by staff in their postgraduate 

studies (figures 1 and 2). 

The CSC has also supported the Centre through 

the provision of two professional scholarships 

co-ordinated by UoS. This resulted in a District 

Environmental Health Officer (EHO) from 

Chikwawa (2003) and Regional Water Engineer from 

College of 

Medicine 

NGOs 

Kamuzu 

College of 

Nursing 

Malawi 

Environmental 

Health 

Association 

UoS Malawi 

Millennium 

Project 

Malawi based organisations 

Scotland based organisation 

REHIS 

Drinking 

Water 

Regulator 

Scotland 

Environmental 

Health Link 

between UoM 

and UoS 

Scottish 

Parasite 

Diagnostic 

Laboratory 

Ministry of 

Irrigation 

and Water 

Dev 

WASHTED 

Ministry of 

Health 

Scotland 

Chikwawa 

Health 

Initiative 

Association of 

Commonwealth 

Universities 

Figure 1. Organisations involved in the environmental 

health link set up between University of Strathclyde 

and University of Malawi - Polytechnic. 

20


EH = Environmental Health 

UoS = University of Strathclyde 

UoM = University of Malawi 

BCHEL = British Council Higher Education Link 

De;PHE = Development partners in higher education 

WASHTED = Centre for Water, Sanitation, 

Health and Appropriate Technology Development 

MEHA = Malawi Environmental Health Association 

MoH = Ministry of Health 

REHIS = Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland 

SG IDF = Scottish Government International Development Fund 

SCHI = Scotland Chikwawa Health Initiative 

DHO = District Health Office 

CRED = Community Rural Electrification Development 

CoM = College of Medicine 

KCN = Kamuzu College of Nursing 

SPDL = Scottish Parasite Diagnostic Laboratory 

MoE = Ministry of Energy 

MIWD = Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development 

Figure 2. Outcomes of the environmental health link set up between 

University of Strathclyde and University of Malawi - Polytechnic. 

Balaka (2008) visiting Scotland to update their 

professional knowledge and development. These 

instigated professional relationships with the Royal 

Environmental Health Institute of Scotland and 

Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland 

respectively, and led to (i) the re-establishment of 

the Malawi Environmental Health Officers’ 

Association (MEHA) after a period of ten years 

dormancy, and (ii) the modification of a risk 

assessment scheme used for small community 

water supplies in Scotland to suit Malawian needs 

in conjunction with WASHTED. To cement their 

relationship, REHIS and South Lanarkshire Council 

thereafter sponsored a second EHO to visit Scotland 

in 2007. These relationships continue to go from 

strength to strength. WASHTED in conjunction with 

the MEHA are to host the 2nd All Africa Environmental 

Health Congress next year (24-28 May 2010) (http:// 

www.poly.ac.mw/centres/washted/). 

Funding from the Scottish Government International 

Development Fund (2006-2010) has also led to 

effective networking between the Departments of 

Environmental Health at UoM and UoS by facilitating 

postgraduate research for departmental staff through the 

Scotland Chikwawa Health Initiative. This programme 

has ensured collaborative work with the Ministry of 

Health, local District Health Office and community 

leaders at all times to ensure the opportunity for 

effective replication and sustainability. The project 

has also built a basis for further programmes and 

research in the Chikwawa area in rural electrification 

(Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, 

UoS and UoM), ecological sanitation, parasitology 

(Scottish Parasite Diagnostic Laboratory) and health 

access (Health Protection Scotland) which are linked 

for activities and community interaction. Relationships 

have also been strengthened between the Departments 

of Environmental Health, Community Nursing and 

Community Health at the constituent college of the 

UoM - Polytechnic, Kamuzu College of Nursing and 

College of Medicine respectively. 

All of these programmes have been developed and 

co-ordinated with relevant institutions and 

Ministries in Malawi and Scotland to ensure 

sustainable development in the field of environmental 

health. This networking has culminated in a DfID 

Development Partnerships in Higher Education grant 

which is aimed at establishing an Africa Academy of 

Environmental Health to help develop environmental 

health education and professional standards in all parts 

of the Southern African Development Community 

(http://www.ifeh.org/afa/) (2009-2012). 

21


INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND SPA CONFERENCE 2009 

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, LONDON 

17-20 MARCH 2009 

by Craig Smith, Principal Environmental Health Offi cer, West Lothian Council 

Introduction 

The 3rd International Swimming Pool and Spa 

Conference took place in London from 17-20 

March 2009. I was fortunate enough to be given the 

opportunity to represent REHIS at this event and gain 

a very worthwhile and knowledgeable insight into 

the current thinking and developments in this aspect 

of public health protection. 

The Conference attracted delegates from many parts 

of the world and speakers came from 12 different 

countries to share their experience and research in 

relation to swimming and spa pool treatment and 

management. 

In all, 35 papers were presented over the two and 

half days. It is not possible to cover every aspect 

of these in this article but hopefully I will be able 

to draw out some of the main points for the 

environmental health profession to be aware of. 

Cryptosporidium 

Dealing effectively with cryptosporidium was a key 

issue of the Conference. There were many papers 

dedicated to this subject. 

The USA has witnessed a 143% increase in nonoutbreak 

cases since 2004 and it is now the leading 

cause of waterborne disease outbreaks. The cases 

in outbreaks are often compounded during the swim 

season where the spread of infection continues in and 

out of the pool environment with infected bathers 

continuing to visit other pools. There is a clear need 

for improved public education. One outbreak in Kansas 

resulted in the banning of under-fives from public 

pools to try and stem the outbreak. 

Another paper discussed research into oocyst 

retention within swim nappies. The conclusions 

were that swim nappies were not an effective means 

of retaining oocysts if the child was ill and excreting. 

The test involved a 30ml solution of water containing 

10 7 microsphere (polystyrene) particles (acting as 

oocyst surrogates) squirted into the swim nappy 

of a child playing in a controlled spa pool in a lab. 

Even the best results were showing a 50% release 

within two to five minutes and in some cases the same 

release within a minute. 

The importance of good filtration was established 

as the key control with cryptosporidium. It was 

also clearly established that for filtration to be 

effective it has to be in combination with appropriate 

coagulation. It was however surprising that this 

process is not necessarily the norm in many 

countries around the world. Filter maintenance and 

backwashing, etc, were also highlighted again as 

important controls. It was, however, interesting to note 

that this is an issue of concern in Denmark due to the 

very high water costs in that country. If water costs 

in the UK increase will this become a factor in pool 

water treatment? Will pool operators consider reducing 

frequencies of backwashing to reduce costs? 

A study of Cryptosporidiosis outbreaks associated 

with swimming pools between 1992 and 2006 

in the UK highlighted that most occurred around 

September/ October. Returning holidaymakers may be 

an aspect in this but it was pointed out that outbreaks 

abroad seem to have reduced dramatically following 

a number of well-publicised outbreaks a few years 

ago. Tour operators have produced guidelines for 

hotel operators to follow in terms of pool management 

which may be helping. 

Cryptosporidium remains a real issue for pool 

operators and also for environmental health. In 

Scotland between 2002 and 2005 there were at 

least five outbreaks of Cryptosporidiosis associated 

22


with swimming pools. I and my colleagues in West 

Lothian were involved in the investigation of three 

of these. No outbreak is a comfortable situation to 

be involved in. It is particularly more stressful being 

faced with investigating one in relatively unfamiliar 

surroundings. As a result of our experience in West 

Lothian we worked with the local health board to 

establish some procedures for dealing with such 

outbreaks and also an aide memoire for officers to 

use when investigating. The newly published Pool 

Water Treatment Advisory Group Guidance 

(mentioned later in this report) contains updated 

advice and guidance on this as well. 

Other issues: 

Mycobacteria 

These present a problem for a number of reasons: 

• they have a high resistance to chlorine and 

biocides 

• pool treatment, etc, normally removes other 

bacteria which gives mycobacteria more 

opportunities 

• biofilm fomation increases resistance and allows 

persistence 

• resistance to lack of nutrients so can survive for 

long periods of time 

• interact with protozoa to gain increased 

protection. 

Studies of pools in Portugal identified the presence 

of mycobacteria in 32% of samples, 24% of these 

being pathogenic. 

Hot tubs and spa pools were highlighted as particular 

areas for attention in relation to the control of 

mycobacteria. The condition ‘hot tub lung’ was 

discussed. Although still fairly rare in the UK it has 

a similar route of infection and requires the same 

approach to control as legionella. Specific concerns 

were raised regarding hot tubs and the huge potential 

for biofilm build up in the long lengths of pipework 

which makes physical cleaning virtually impossible. 

Pseudomonas aeruginosa 

The use of pool inflatables was identified in outbreaks 

in 2002 and 2008 in England. The outbreak in 2002 

involved 35 children who had used an inflatable slide 

at a pool. Follow-up investigations found that nine 

out of ten inflatables at local pools had Pseudomonas 

present. 

The problem stems from the design and storage 

of the inflatables. When in use they require to be 

constantly pumped full of air. The seams are porous 

and therefore the inside gets and remains wet. When 

they are deflated for storage they are not properly dried 

and therefore remain wet. Biofilms can form in the 

folds and seams. Studies involving swabbing various 

points on the inflatables identified variably high levels 

of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 

Key improvements are needed by manufacturers 

to help facilitate better cleaning. However, it is 

also vitally important that pool operators are aware 

of the risks and take all necessary precautions to 

ensure good cleaning and storage practices are in 

place for such equipment. 

Bather Hygiene 

The importance of bather hygiene and impact on 

bathing loads of pools was highlighted in a study 

carried out in Holland. There are three types of 

bathing load: 

• initial (added by bathers on first entry) 

• continual (produced by bather activity, 

eg, sweat) 

• accidental (urea, etc). 

The study focused on the initial load and looked 

at the effects of showering or not showering. It 

also asked bathers a number of other questions 

regarding hygiene prior to coming to the pool. 

The experiment involved bathers taking a 15 

second shower using three litres of water. The 

waste water from the shower unit was collected and 

tested against a number of parameters. The results 

showed that even a 15 second shower significantly 

reduced the bathing load of the individual. 

It certainly reinforces our understanding of 

the importance of bather hygiene and perhaps pool 

operators need to be more demanding on bathers to 

shower before entering the pool. 

23


Interactive Water Features 

There has been a large increase in recent years of 

these features appearing in the UK. There are a wide 

variety of spray and splash systems, often with all or 

some of the water being recycled. 

Whilst well-designed, managed and maintained 

features present little risk there are a number of 

potential problems to be considered. These include: 

• the water systems open to infections and 

contamination from users, animals, pests, etc 

• failure to treat and control adequately 

re-circulated water 

• children prone to drinking or ingesting the 

water. 

Over the years in the USA there have been a number 

of outbreaks associated with these features. In 

1997 in Minnesota 369 cases of Cryptosporidiosis 

were associated with a feature at a zoo. In 1999, in 

Daytona Beach, Florida, there was an outbreak of 

Shigella and Cryptosporidiosis. Outbreaks were 

generally caused by poor design and maintenance 

of the features. 

The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) 

guidance (mentioned below) now contains advice 

on such features. 

Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group Guidance 

- Swimming Pool Water Treatment and Quality 

Standards for Pools and Spas 

The second edition of the guidance was launched 

at the Conference. PWTAG guidance has been 

available since 1999. The second edition updates a 

significant number of chapters as well as introducing 

advice and technical guidance in a number of new 

areas. As there are no specific regulatory controls 

on swimming pool standards the guidance acts as 

an important benchmark for enforcing the Health 

and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in relation to the 

safe operation of pools and spas. It is recognised 

that the guidance should also be read and followed 

in conjunction with Health and Safety Executive and 

Health Protection Agency 1,2 guidance on the subject. 

The guidance is essential for the environmental 

health profession involved in inspecting and dealing 

with swimming pools and spas. 

Whilst the principles of water treatment have barely 

changed since the guidance was first published, 

new challenges have emerged. Outbreaks of 

Cryptosporidiosis linked to pool use, legionella in 

spa pools, concerns about links to childhood 

asthma and continued use of chlorine disinfection are 

just some. The guidance tackles these and has new 

chapters on the following subjects: 

• dealing with outbreaks 

• spa pools - commercial and domestic hot tubs 

• leisure pools including water features 

• hydrotherapy pools 

• outdoor swimming and paddling pools 

• pools in holiday camps, hotels, schools and on 

ships 

• domestic pools 

• interactive water features and play equipment. 

The guidance is designed to be used by designers, 

suppliers, operators and managers of any type and 

size of pool. 

Further useful information and how to get a copy of 

the guidance are available on the PWTAG website: 

www.pwtag.org. 

A Challenge to Public Health 

It is sometimes easy to forget the crucial role 

environmental health have to play in this aspect 

of public health control. Swimming pools and 

leisure complexes are not a frequent occurrence on 

inspection programmes and many fall under the remit 

of the HSE for enforcement. However, if something 

goes wrong and outbreaks occur then we will be drawn 

into resolving the problem. 

I have to admit that many of the technical papers 

presented at the Conference were perhaps a challenge 

to my academic abilities. However, it only further 

highlighted the complex chemical, physical and 

biological elements of water quality and treatment 

that are required to ensure public health and safety 

in swimming pools. 

In pressing times for environmental health resources 

in local government it would be easy to dismiss this 

24


aspect of work as lower priority. I would, however, 

urge caution in this regard. As a profession we may 

not have the opportunity to inspect such establishments 

on a regular basis but that does not reduce their 

potential impact on public health. The Conference 

also carried very clear messages of the importance 

of proactive attention to many of the issues raised. 

Many thousands of people will use swimming pools 

and leisure facilities within our areas every week. 

It is, therefore, vitally important that as people seek 

to benefit from the healthy lifestyle that swimming 

promotes they are protected from the risks of fungal 

infections, ear, nose and throat infections, eye 

infections, respiratory illnesses, gastro-intestinal 

illnesses, exposure to harmful chemicals, etc. 

It is important that the environmental health 

profession is not just there to investigate the 

consequences of failures but has a more proactive 

approach to ensuring that facilities follow recognised 

guidance. Also, we need to make sure that we are 

competent to ensure the guidance is being followed. 

Whilst I feel there are many lessons to be learned from 

my trip to this Conference I think that the following 

key issues need some consideration: 

• swimming pools, spas and leisure facilities 

still have potential to cause significant damage 

to public health if they are not managed and 

controlled properly 

• cryptosporidium is still an issue and more needs 

to be done to educate the public on the 

importance of not swimming when ill and 

avoiding swimming for two to three weeks 

after illness 

• pool operators need to be more positive in 

ensuring bathers shower before entering 

a pool 

• pool operators need to be directed by 

environmental health to ensure that the guidance 

issued by PWTAG, HSE and HPA is being 

followed 

• environmental health need to be aware not 

only of the current issues with pool treatment 

but of the potential impact of emerging issues. 

For example, increasing water costs and 

impact on treatment programmes, increasing 

free swimming places bringing more children 

into pools, and any movements away from 

chlorine-based disinfectants and impacts that 

may have. 

And finally… 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tom 

Bell and REHIS for the opportunity to represent the 

Institute at this Conference. I hope the issues touched 

upon in this report are appropriate to stimulate us all 

to think more about the key role environmental health 

has to play in protecting public health. 

Footnotes 

1 

HSG179 Managing health and safety 

in swimming pools. ISBN: 0 7176 1388 7. 

2 

Management of spa pools: controlling the risk 

of infection. London: Health Protection 

Agency. March 2006. ISBN: 0 901144 80 0. 

3 

PAS 39:2003 Management of public swimming 

pools - water treatment systems, water treatment 

plant and heating and ventilation systems 

- code of practice. BSI. ISBN: 0 580 42649 1. 

FROM THE COURTS 

North Lanarkshire Council 

Accused: 

Shahida Chaudhary, Ghulm Subhani and Ashiya Chaudhary 

Address of Premises: GN Mini Market, 9K Darroch Way, Seafar, Cumbernauld, G67 1PY 

Legislation: 

Regulation 44(1)(d) of the Food Labelling Regulations, 1996 and Sections 

16(1)(e) and (f) of the Food Safety Act 1990 

Date of Offences: 23 July 2007, 17 November 2007 and 18 January 2008 

Case Summary: 

The repeated sale of various out-of-date, ready-to-eat foodstuffs over three 

separate occasions. The cases were considered at a single determination. 

Date Determined: 20 March 2009 

Outcome: 

Shahida Chaudhary pled guilty to all three charges. Not guilty pleas were 

accepted for Ghulm Subhani and Ashiya Chaudhary. 

Penalty: £250. 

*** 

25


IMPACTS OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY ON THE HEALTH 

OF PRE-EXISTING ASTHMATICS AT WORK 

A REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND CURRENT GUIDANCE 

by Val Cameron and Dr Kehinde Oduyemi, University of Abertay Dundee 

Introduction 

A huge amount of research has been undertaken 

into the impacts on health from ambient (outdoor) air 

pollution sources such as road traffic emissions and 

industry (Beverland 2007, Prescott 2000). For many 

years, local authority Environmental Health teams have 

been involved in ensuring that their local authority 

meets the objectives of the National Air Quality 

Strategy (NAQS) in reducing ambient air pollution 

that causes and exacerbates respiratory disorders. 

The effect of indoor environments and air quality 

(AQ) is now being recognised as a significant impact 

on health. It is estimated that people spend as much 

as 80% of their lives indoors (WHO 2002), at home, 

at school, at leisure or at work. Studies have shown 

that ambient air pollutants can be found indoors 

and so it can be assumed that if ambient air pollution 

levels rise, then this will also increase indoors. 

Whilst there is a direct correlation with hospital 

admissions for respiratory disorders with increases 

in ambient air pollution, this may well be contributed 

to by other exposures indoors. 

This review will concentrate on the allergic 

mechanisms involved with the respiratory disorder, 

asthma, and the current thinking on prevention and 

control. Many studies to date concentrate on medical 

interventions, and the contribution made by local 

authority Environmental Health Professionals in 

prevention and control of environmental stressors, 

is often unnoticed and unrecorded. 

During the 1980s and 1990s as many as one in 

five children in Scotland were diagnosed as being 

asthmatic. Whilst some children ‘grow out of’ the 

condition, one in eight teenagers leave school with 

asthma and require long-term medication to control 

their symptoms. These young people, with preexisting 

asthma, are now entering the workforce and 

it is uncertain as to how their condition is assessed 

and risk managed while they are at work. In Scotland 

this amounts to about 35,000 young people each year. 

The total number of asthma sufferers in Scotland is 

about 265,000, being calculated on the number of 

people who seek medical attention for the condition 

each year. The statistics indicate that more females, 

than males, consult with GPs about asthma, but this 

does not necessarily mean that the prevalence of the 

condition is greater in females. (ISD Scotland). 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has 

researched extensively into ‘occupational asthma’, 

ie, asthma caused for the fi rst time by exposures in 

the workplace, and the essential risk assessment and 

risk management of such exposures. Their research 

does not determine, however, the same controls for 

pre-existing asthmatics. 

26


The data in the charts on this page and the previous 

page is based on ISD’s Read Code Grouping (RCG) 

‘Asthma’. Data is standardised by deprivation. 

What is asthma? 

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the 

airways and is caused by an immune response to an 

allergen, causing the release of an allergy antibody 

- Immunoglobulin E (IgE). The release of IgE is now 

thought to be the most important predisposing factor 

in the development of asthma (US Expert Panel Report 

3:2007). If released, IgE binds to receptors on mast 

cells, found in connective tissues and the airways. 

When this is then exposed to the allergen, they 

become ‘cross linked’ and the mast cell is activated 

and inflammatory chemicals are released, such as 

histamines. The symptoms that follow include 

sneezing, coughing, wheezing and shortness of 

breath, which can be mild or more severe and can 

occasionally lead to death. Photographs 1a and 1b 

show the constriction of the airways during an asthma 

attack. This leads to the wheeze, coughing and 

breathlessness of the sufferer which typifies asthma. 

Whilst the prevalence of the condition is on the 

increase the number of deaths attributed to asthma is 

declining due to improved treatment and education 

of sufferers. (US Expert Panel Report 3:2007). 

Exposure 

The assessment of exposure to respiratory allergens 

is therefore crucial in preventing and controlling 

ill-health in pre-existing asthmatics. A number of 

exposures may contribute to exacerbation of symptoms 

experienced by asthmatics, however, the association 

of such risk factors and asthma is difficult to 

determine due to the intermittence of symptomatic 

episodes (Anto 2004). Whilst the measurement of 

Photographs 1a and 1b showing constriction of the airways during an asthma attack. 

27


exposures helps to determine what people are exposed 

to, the actual dose inhaled will determine the health 

effect and ensuing symptoms. 

Inhalation exposure occurs in a multiple of microenvironments 

and the majority of that exposure 

occurs indoors (Weisel 2002). Exposure varies 

with time and location and can be influenced by the 

person’s breathing rate and level of physical activity. 

(Lioy 1990). 

‘Inadequate human exposure classifi cation continues 

to be one of the most pressing issues to be addressed 

in future environmental epidemiology research, 

and has important implications for both local 

government environmental health and central 

government environmental pollution monitoring 

policies.’ (Beverland et al 2007). 

World Health Organisation 

In 2002 the World Health Organisation (WHO) 

considered the role of human exposure assessment 

in Air Quality Management, which led to the 

European Concerted Action on ‘Urban Air, Indoor 

Environment and Human Exposure’. The committee 

acknowledged that exposure assessment plays a 

major role in risk assessment and risk management 

and is ‘a more direct environmental health risk 

indicator than ambient air measurements’. 

The 2002 WHO workshop considered two approaches 

to exposure assessment: 

1. ambient exposures: using emissions 

inventories, dispersion modelling, air quality 

monitoring to give a detailed description of 

concentrations in time and space 

2. indoor assessment: based on personal exposures 

and ‘micro-environment’ concentrations, 

apportioned to sources based on activity/ 

behaviour and time. 

The WHO considered that policy developed 

by regulatory authorities needs to mitigate these 

exposures. These should include changes in 

conditions, eg, traffic management, urban planning 

for ambient AQ management, but also measures 

to change individual behaviours, eg, the behaviour 

of residents indoors. Regulation of individual 

behaviour is an impossible task and change in that 

respect will only be brought about by better building 

design and education. 

The committee went on to develop a model that 

identifies the four tenets of public health (exposure, 

health effect, health impact and measures) in relation 

to risk assessment and risk management. Effective 

risk reduction strategies for the indoor environment 

depend on assessment of risks in the microenvironment, 

activities and emission sources. 

Micro-environments occur in buildings due to: 

the ability of the fabric to ‘filter’ or emit pollutants; 

layout and design where features such as location of 

windows, chimneys, staircases affect air circulation 

and ventilation; and impacts from combustion 

sources such as cooking and heating appliances. 

In 2006, the WHO Working Group on the development 

of WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality agreed 

that indoor air quality was a significant determinant 

of health, although intervention strategies lag behind 

those for ambient air. At that time it was estimated 

that 1.6 million premature deaths per year worldwide 

were caused by indoor air pollution and over half 

are in developing countries. 

The Working Group has taken forward work 

already done on ambient air quality and, at a workshop 

in 2007, delegates agreed that many issues around 

ambient air pollution and health impacts are similar 

indoors. It recognised the complex relationship 

between indoor air pollution and health, the 

relationship between indoor air quality and building 

design, micro-environments influenced by building 

materials, maintenance and use of homes, and 

particularly the impact of indoor combustion 

processes and systems of ventilation. Much of 

the work has been done in connection with homes 

but these impacts will also apply equally to indoor 

workplaces. 

The Working Group identified three key areas for 

consideration and three sub groups developed the 

framework for new guidelines to be published. 

1. guidelines for specific agents/substances - list 

of compounds 

2. biological agents - a list was produced which 

includes dampness and mould, ventilation 

systems and allergens 

3. combustion of fuels indoors - appliances, 

ventilation, combustion processes and cleaner 

fuel sources. 

From this list it is easy to discern that Environmental 

Health Officers (EHOs) can have a huge role to 

play in developing and implementing any strategy 

based on these three key areas. EHOs already 

have statutory powers that include maintaining and 

improving housing conditions, reducing dampness 

and mould growth, improving ventilation, preventing 

28


ill-health from indoor combustion sources like carbon 

monoxide both in the home and interventions to ensure 

healthy workplaces. 

UK Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution 

The UK Committee on the Medical Effects of Air 

Pollution (COMEAP) produced ‘Guidance on the 

Effects of Indoor Air Pollutants’ (2004) which 

recommended guideline values for indoor air for five 

parameters, NO 2 

, CO, formaldehyde, benzene and 

benzo(a)pyrene. This guidance detailed the sources 

of indoor air pollution and the potential damage 

to human health. However, in some cases, assessment 

of indoor exposures relied on volunteer studies 

involving fit adults and so it was difficult to determine 

the true effect of indoor exposures, especially in 

the case of pre-existing asthmatics. COMEAP 

considered the potential of standards for indoor 

air quality and concluded that this would need to 

include the methodology for monitoring and standards 

for certain parameters although no comment was 

made on the regulation of such standards or how 

regulation could be taken forward. COMEAP 

considered using the standards for workplace 

exposures or the possibility of using ambient air 

standards, the latter appeared to be 

more favourable as can be seen from the list 

of parameters for which guideline values 

were suggested. This seems more plausible as 

occupational exposures are based on an eight hour 

working day, and as already discussed, ambient air 

quality is assessed continuously in time and has an 

impact on air quality indoors. 

COMEAP considered the possible sources of indoor 

pollutants and identified NO 2 

, CO 2 

, polycyclic 

aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from heating fuels, 

formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 

from building materials, linoleum, fabrics, carpets and 

floor tiles, etc, particles associated with MDF fibre 

board, Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) and a 

potential range of sources associated with household 

cleaning materials. 

Studies have shown that healthy adults have little or no 

response to low levels of NO 2 

typically found indoors. 

However, asthmatics will have an increased response to 

allergens if exposed to NO 2 

before or at the same time 

and children exposed are 20% more likely to develop 

respiratory infections causing wheezing (Tunnicliffe 

et al 1994, Chauhan et al 2003). The COMEAP 

guideline values for indoor exposures would protect 

those affected by respiratory conditions and would 

prevent long-term cumulative population exposures, 

as shown in the table below. 

It should be noted that COMEAP will absorb remit of 

the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS) 

later in 2009. 

Allergens 

‘Allergy’ - Volume 1 Report - House of Lords Science 

and Technology Committee, published in September 

2007 states that allergy in the UK is reaching ‘epidemic 

proportions’. 

The report draws together all known allergies and 

impacts on health from allergens, including inhaled 

allergens. 

Whilst the report detailed the roles and 

responsibilities of many health professionals involved 

with allergy, this focused on medical interventions 

and the role of EHOs was barely mentioned. 

29


In that context, the role of EHOs was related 

to food allergens only (Dr Ian Leach, N Ireland) 

and no mention of EHOs in relation to the NAQS 

and workplace interventions was reported for 

inhaled allergens. This is a significant area of 

intervention that was missed by the report. 

The report highlighted that about 25% of all 

ill-health from allergies was caused by preventable 

environmental sources, and the important role 

of planning and environmental controls was 

underestimated. 

In 2005 a joint NHS Health Scotland and Health 

Protection Scotland report - ‘Internal Air Quality and 

Health’ - was circulated. This paper concentrates 

on the impacts from homes as a place of shelter and 

warmth, and as such, assigns domestic exposures to 

those who spend most time there, ie, the young and 

the elderly. The report explored behaviours in the 

home that were linked to the growth of 

micro-organisms associated with dampness, eg, 

mould growth, fungi and warmth encouraging house 

dust mites and their associated allergens. 

The report explored the inter-relationships with 

the ambient air pollutants as well as building 

materials and household occupancy and use. 

This reflected the thinking outlined in the 

COMEAP report. 

The strong association to children’s health further 

developed the theme that indoor air pollution was a 

significant determinant of health and draws parallels 

with the ‘Children’s Environmental Health Action 

Plan for Europe’ (CEHAPE), which required 

improvement in indoor environments for children. 

Unfortunately, indoor workplaces were not included 

in the NHSHS/HPS report. The concept of multiple 

micro-environment exposures being a combination 

of home, ambient and workplace exposures for workers 

was omitted from the report. 

In many studies about the workplace, the only reference 

was to ‘occupational asthma’, ie, asthma caused 

for the fi rst time through workplace exposures such 

as flour and grain, latex and gluteraldehyde, 

isocyanates, etc. There was no consideration of the 

impacts at work on pre-existing asthmatics for ‘normal’ 

indoor environments. 

Workplace Health and Safety 

A Strategy for Workplace Health and Safety in 

Great Britain to 2010 and Beyond - Health and 

Safety Commission (HSC) 

In 2000 the HSC set out its strategy to reduce the 

incidence of new cases of workplace ill-health by 

30% by 2010. As part of this, the Disease Reduction 

Programme (DRP) focused on asbestos, dermatitis 

and asthma. HSE inspectors and local authority staff 

undertook joint training to increase an understanding 

of the topics and embarked on ‘themed’ inspections 

of workplaces in their respective jurisdictions. 

The validity of targeting resources to themed, topicbased 

inspections has not yet been evaluated. 

Health and Safety Executive/Local Authority 

Enforcement Liaison Committee (HELA) Advice 

to Local Authorities on Intervention Programmes 

and an Inspection Rating System 

This guidance sets out the criteria for the risk scoring 

scheme used by local authority EHOs/authorised 

officers and outlines the priority risk rating system, 

which determines the frequency at which premises 

should be inspected. The rating elements include 

safety hazard, health hazard, safety risk, health risk, 

welfare, public risk and confidence in management. 

These elements are scored by the inspecting officer 

following the inspection of the premises and 

discussion with the proprietor and/or staff. The extent 

to which impacts, from indoor environments on preexisting 

asthmatics, are assessed by inspecting officials, 

is unknown at this stage. 

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - The true cost 

of occupational asthma in Great Britain 

Prior to this report the cost of asthma was based on the 

prevalence of asthma in the workforce. However, this 

calculation did not distinguish between pre-existing 

asthmatics and the incidence of new cases caused by 

workplace exposures. For the first time, the cost of 

occupational asthma was determined. The converse 

however, was that the cost of work days lost, cost of 

treatment, etc, for pre-existing asthmatics was not 

calculated. 

Conclusion 

The review of the literature shows that risk 

assessment and risk management of pre-existing 

asthmatics at work require further exploration. 

Indoor workplace environments in offices, retail, food 

outlets, etc, could be similar to that found in 

homes although this has never been researched. 

Human exposures to multiple micro-environments, 

particularly those indoors, have not been classified 

and adequately assessed so the current policy of 

linking ambient exposure and clinical symptoms 

needs further research. The review of the literature 

suggests that much work has been done to develop 

treatment for the symptoms experienced by 

asthmatics and risk management for those who have 

30


developed asthma ‘for the first time’ in the workplace, 

but there are gaps in the knowledge of exposure to 

indoor environmental impacts on respiratory health. 

The review indicates that further studies are needed 

to identify parameters for preventative measures to 

better assess and manage the risks to pre-existing 

asthmatics entering the workforce. 

Local authority Environmental Health Officers can 

use a wide variety of interventions to bring about 

improvements in health and that of asthmatics, although 

their role is often unnoticed or unreported. Further 

work is required here to evaluate environmental 

interventions and to better promote to role of 

environmental health professionals in the prevention 

and control of asthma. 

‘The ‘human cost’ of asthma remains unacceptably 

high. The economic impact of asthma is considerable. 

People with asthma, their health care professionals, 

and the health service need to work together to reduce 

the high human and economic burden of asthma in 

Scotland.’ (Neville et al 2003). 

Since this review was written, two important 

documents have been published: ‘Long-Term Exposure 

to Air Pollution: Effect on Mortality’ - a report by 

COMEAP 2009 (ISBN: 978 0 85951 640 2) and 

‘WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness 

and Mould’ - WHO Europe 2009 (ISBN: 978 92 890 

4168 2). 

References 

References are available on request. 

*** 

THE 2ND ALL AFRICA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONGRESS, 

MAY 2010 - CALL FOR ABSTRACTS 

The International Federation of Environmental Health 

(IFEH) in collaboration with the Government of 

Malawi and the University of Malawi welcomes the 

submission of abstracts for papers to be presented at 

the 2nd IFEH Africa Group All Africa Environmental 

Health Congress to be held in Lilongwe, Malawi 

from 24 to 27 May 2010. 

A combination of communication media will be used 

for the Congress. The main method will be oral and 

poster presentations organised in thematic sessions. 

Large group and plenary sessions will be included for 

major pertinent issues. In addition, there will also be 

focus group discussions, invited addresses, exhibitions 

and local field visits. 

The Congress sub-themes will be water and sanitation, 

food safety, chemicals and pesticides, environmental 

remediation, community development, data use and 

information management, environmental pollution, 

disease surveillance, port health, disaster management, 

community/child health, environment and health, 

waste management, policy and legislation, occupational 

health and safety, research, environmental health 

training and development, climate change and 

communicable diseases. 

The abstracts from oral sessions of the Congress will be 

selected through a committee review process. Accepted 

abstracts that are not scheduled for oral sessions may 

be scheduled for poster sessions. For oral presentations 

each speaker will have 15 minutes for presentation 

followed by five minutes of discussion. 

Abstracts should be prepared using MS Word and 

selected font should not be smaller than 12 point. Author 

and co-author(s) names, institutions/departments/ 

organisations are to be typed under the title. You are 

asked to underline the name of the presenting author 

and not to include degrees or professional titles. 

The title of abstracts must be in capital letters not 

exceeding 255 letters and the abstract text must 

contain not more than 250 words. Abstracts must be 

written in English and the text must be single spaced. 

All margins should be 30mm. You are asked to 

leave a blank line between paragraphs and not indent 

paragraphs. The use of tables and figures in the 

abstract is discouraged. Abstracts should contain 

objectives, study methods, results, conclusions and 

recommendations. 

Interested participants should submit abstracts on any 

of the above sub-themes to: 

The Secretariat, WASHTED, University of 

Malawi - The Polytechnic, P/B 303, Chichiri, Blantyre 

3, Malawi. The e-mail address for submissions is 

washted@poly.ac.mw. 

Further information on the Congress is available 

from the dedicated website www.poly.ac.mw/ 

2aaehcongress/. 

Please note: The deadline for the submission of 

abstracts and full papers is 30 October and 30 

December 2009, respectively. 

31


by Bernard Forteath 

IFEH NEWS 

The 2009 Council meeting and AGM of the 

Federation were held in Singapore on Saturday 18 and 

Sunday 19 July. The arrangements for these meetings 

were made by the Society of Environmental Health, 

Singapore. 

Singapore, known as the Lion City, is an island 

city state located at the southern tip of the Malay 

Peninsula, 85 miles north of the equator. Singapore 

gained independence from the United Kingdom in 

1963 and, although it only has a land mass of some 

275 square miles, and is one of the smallest nations 

in Southeast Asia, it is now the fifth wealthiest 

country in the world in terms of GDP. Since 

independence, Singapore’s standard of living has 

risen dramatically due to foreign investment and 

state-led industrialisation. The population of 

Singapore is slightly less than Scotland at 

4.86 million, with Chinese people forming an 

ethnic majority together with large populations of 

Malay and Indian people. 

The Singapore Lion 

(photograph courtesy of Ray Ellard). 

The first thing that strikes you about Singapore is the 

abundance of good public transport, the cleanliness 

of the streets and precincts, and well maintained 

parks and open spaces. There is no litter, no chewing 

gum, no graffiti, no grass cuttings left on pavements. 

It is an Environmental Health Officer’s dream. 

For example, people are fined heavily for dropping 

a cigarette end. Apart from the obvious, the other 

reason for this is that surface water is recycled and 

used again so cigarette ends would cause problems 

during the filtration process. Water sustainability 

is very important to the country and is rigorously 

monitored. Environmental protection, air quality, 

environmental health, solid waste management, 

and food safety are seen as important and receive 

appropriate investment. There is, however, strict 

enforcement and heavy penalties for anyone who 

does not act in accordance with the law. You 

can now purchase chewing gum in Singapore but 

only on prescription and from a pharmacy! The 

general public are enthusiastic about their environment 

- they think it natural to keep it clean - and have an 

enthusiastic pride in their country, which I must admit 

was infectious. 

The Council meeting took two days to complete 

with most of the first day given over to presentations 

made by member organisations. These presentations 

have now become an intrinsic part of Federation 

meetings and give members a good insight into 

some of the challenges being faced by colleagues 

around the world. Needless to say the current Influenza 

A H1N1 pandemic and general problems associated with 

climate change were high on everyone’s agenda. 

The Council noted progress in the development 

of a training manual to be used for training 

volunteers under the auspices of Environmental 

Health in Disasters and Emergencies (EHiDE). A 

cost of around £6,500 has been identified to develop 

the manual and it is hoped that some sponsorship will 

be available from the private sector. 

A committee has been set up to develop a proposal 

to establish a ‘World Environmental Health Day’. 

There is already a World Health Day, a World Aids 

Day and a World Rabies Day so the ‘health day’ 

calendar is already well established and filled. 

However, the Council feels there is merit in 

establishing an ‘environmental health day’ to 

mark a particular event or subject important to the 

environmental health community and the committee 

will hopefully develop this idea over the next few 

months. The intention is to declare 29 September 

each year, which is the anniversary of the day that 

the Federation was inaugurated, for this purpose and 

the first day is scheduled for 29 September 2010. 

A number of membership changes were approved 

by the Council, and subsequently approved by 

the AGM held on the Sunday, including the 

admission into the membership of the Federation 

of Indonesia and Portugal as full members, 

and Concordia University College, Alberta and the 

University of Indonesia as Associate Members. 

Changes to the membership categories were also 

32


Bernard Forteath, IFEH President, presents awards at the Conference Dinner 

of the Society of Environmental Health, Singapore. 

approved which will allow individuals who are 

currently a member of a Member Organisation 

(a REHIS member, for example) or in possession 

of a degree or relevant postgraduate qualification 

and involved in environmental health, to take out 

Individual Membership. Hopefully this new category 

will attract members not only from existing Member 

Organisations but also individuals working in 

the environment and health fields in countries 

where there is no established environmental health 

organisation at present. The other new category 

of membership is Affiliated Organisation, 

and membership in this category is open to private 

companies interested in environment and health 

and who support the aims and objectives of the 

Federation. For both these new categories of 

membership the applicants will have to satisfy 

a Membership Panel comprising the President, 

President Elect, Honorary Secretary and Honorary 

Treasurer, and currently this group is preparing for 

a recruitment drive sometime in the autumn of this 

year. 

A discussion paper submitted by the International 

Faculty Forum - ‘Developing an International 

Competence-Based Curriculum for Environmental 

Health’ - was the subject of much debate during the 

last day. The intention, inter alia, of the paper is to 

try to identify a common, internationally recognised 

educational base for environmental health, in the 

hope that this would allow greater transportability of 

qualifications and mutual recognition by countries 

around the world. Within the European Union 

legislation there exists in the form of Directive 

2005/36/EC as amended by Council Directive 

2006/100/EC, ‘Recognition of Professional 

Qualifications’. These Directives were incorporated 

into UK legislation by The European Communities 

(Recognition of Professional Qualifications) 

Regulations 2007. Part 2, ‘Professions Regulated by 

Professional Bodies Incorporated by Royal Charter’ 

lists REHIS as the Competent Authority for EHO 

(along with CIEH) and for Chartered EHO. 

However, the Directive does not apply to professionals 

from countries outside the European Union. There 

were many questions and concerns raised concerning 

the legality and practicability of the proposals 

outlined in the paper and, after a full and frank 

discussion, it was agreed to continue the matter 

until the next Council meeting to allow all Member 

Organisations to submit comments. The REHIS view 

on the paper is outlined in the ‘Chief Executive’s 

View’ which appeared in the summer edition of 

Environmental Health Scotland and in ‘A Personal 

Perspective’ which appeared in the latest edition of 

Environment and Health International, the Federation’s 

magazine. 

The Council meetings were well attended with 

representation from Europe, North America, Africa and 

the Asia Pacific region. The unanimous view of the 

delegates was that the meetings had been successful 

due in no small way to the arrangements made on our 

behalf by Dr Pranav Joshi, President, and Mr John 

Gerizim, Secretary, of the Society of Environmental 

Health, Singapore. 

33


HSE LAU NEWS 

by Tony Hetherington, Head of Local Authority Unit, Health and Safety Executive 

This last quarter has seen the finalisation and launch 

of HSE’s strategy, ‘The Health and Safety of Great 

Britain - Be part of the solution’ and I’d like to reflect 

a little on this document. 

From my perspective one of the most important aspects 

of the strategy was the recognition by Judith Hackitt 

in her foreword that HSE and local authorities had 

a ‘strong co-regulator partnership’. Whilst we 

haven’t yet cracked every issue between HSE and 

local authorities we now work together as equals and 

respect the strengths that both sides bring to our 

shared mission of reducing workplace accidents 

and ill-health. As a result of the efforts and flexibility 

of so many inspectors in both local authorities and 

HSE, we have come a very long way in developing 

our relationship since the strategy published in 

2004 concluded that we needed to work together in 

partnership. I’d like to take this opportunity to say 

many thanks to all of you that have worked so hard to 

make that vision a reality. 

The strategy clearly signals that the HSE Board 

wishes to see a new approach to the way we go about 

securing improvements in workplace health and 

safety. Of particular relevance to the way local 

authorities go about this will be in the fields of 

leadership, involving the workforce, building 

competence and supporting small and medium sized 

businesses. Work is underway to put more flesh 

on these bones and incorporate these aspects into 

inspection regimes. This will undoubtedly generate 

some challenges, but I’m absolutely convinced that 

the effort will pay dividends. 

Undoubtedly, changes in approach will be needed 

in order to respond to the strategy. However, I believe 

the concerns expressed by some that inspectors 

don’t know how to respond to the new approach 

are unfounded. I have even heard it said that the 

Fit3 priorities are no longer relevant and inspectors 

will be asked to inspect for ‘leadership’. Nothing 

could be further from the truth. The priorities for 

action, slips and trips, falls, transport, etc…. remain 

relevant and the same standards need to be achieved to 

prevent accidents and ill-health. The questions at the 

heart of any inspection will remain; is the business 

achieving a satisfactory standard? If not, what do they 

need to do to meet the standard? 

How inspectors should then go about securing 

improvement will focus on, at the most basic, ensuring 

the commitment of those in charge of the business 

to lead the necessary improvement, that they 

should involve the workforce in identifying how 

improvements can be identified and implemented. 

In some businesses this may involve training for 

managers, workers or both to build their competence. 

And these issues will be particularly relevant in 

small firms. 

I am sure you will all recognise that these steps are 

essential if a business is to improve and to sustain 

necessary improvement and that as inspectors, you 

already have a considerable toolkit of techniques 

to achieve these ends. In responding to the strategy, 

we intend to develop these techniques, expand the 

range of new techniques and embed them all in 

structured approaches to inspection. However, we 

must never forget what we are ultimately about - driving 

change for the better! 

However, changes in approach to the strategy will 

also go deeper than a simple restatement and 

repackaging of the same old things. For example, 

in relation to competence, this means making sure 

everyone is competent to fulfil their role. Managers 

must be competent to identify risk, develop control 

measures and provide the leadership to make change 

happen in the workplace. Workers must be competent 

to carry out operations safely. Worker representatives 

need to understand risk, to be able to communicate 

with their fellow workers and represent their views 

to managers. Consultants need to be competent in 

matching their expertise to the needs of their clients 

and providing advice that businesses can apply. 

And, of course, we as inspectors must be competent 

to bring all this together to improve standards in the 

workplace. 

We also need to look at how we engage with small 

businesses - how we tailor guidance to the needs 

of small businesses and how we ensure that they 

can identify and access local, good quality advice. 

This is an area where HSE can learn from local 

authorities. Many authorities and professional bodies 

like REHIS do great work in generating clear 

practical guidance and delivering that guidance to those 

who need it at the local level. 

Work is in hand to develop new approaches 

to inspection, both in the way it is done and who 

might be the target of our inspections. 

34


There will be exciting challenges for us all, but we will 

not lose sight of the final part of the strategy ‘driving 

change for the better’. This section of the strategy 

makes it clear that what matters ultimately is: 

• reducing the number of work-related fatalities, 

injuries and cases of ill-health 

• gaining widespread commitment and recognition 

of what real health and safety is about 

• motivating all those in the health and safety 

system as to how they can contribute to an 

improved health and safety performance 

• ensuring that those who fail in their health and 

safety duties are held to account. 

We are in interesting and exciting times as we 

develop how we work and whom we work with to 

deliver better outcomes. It will be challenging but I 

am sure that together we are capable of delivering the 

HSE Board’s aspirations. 

*** 

SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION FOR SALE OF UNFIT FOOD 

On 8 July 2009 Lerwick Sheriff Court found 

Timberlake Enterprises Ltd guilty of a number of 

offences in relation to food safety. A routine food 

hygiene inspection and associated revisits were 

carried out in Alex Morrisons, 5-9 Browns 

Buildings, Freefield, Lerwick by officers from 

Shetland Islands Council’s Environmental 

Health team. Officers found mouldy food and 

items of food past their use-by date presented for 

sale. Timberlake Enterprises Ltd pleaded guilty to 

charges of selling a mouldy macaroni pie and 

was fined £500, for the remaining ten charges relating 

to use-by dates they were fined £1,500. 

Environmental Health staff have made a number 

of visits to the premises since the time of the original 

offence and are working with the premises manager 

to ensure that he complies with the food hygiene 

legislation and a number of improvements have already 

been made. 

Officers of the Environmental Health team regularly 

inspect the 438 food premises within the Islands 

providing guidance and advice to ensure that the food 

supplied is safe. It is important that public confidence 

is maintained and that all food business operators 

realise that failure to comply with food safety law is 

a criminal offence, which can result in significant 

fines and/or imprisonment. 

*** 

RESTAURANT OWNER FINED £2,250 FOR POOR HYGIENE STANDARDS 

The former owner of an Indian restaurant and 

take-away was recently prosecuted after Environmental 

Health Officers from the Highland Council found very 

poor hygiene conditions within the restaurant. 

Officers inspected the restaurant formerly known 

as the Indian Garden Restaurant, 7 Bridge Street, 

Inverness, in September 2008 following an allegation 

of rat sightings. On inspection, officers found 

evidence of rat droppings in the rear food store and 

identified a number of food hygiene failings within the 

catering operation. 

At a hearing at Inverness Sheriff Court, Mr Iqbal Ali 

Choudhury was found guilty of seven food hygiene 

offences and fined a total of £2,250. The offences 

included failing to implement effective pest control 

measures, not keeping equipment clean and failing to 

comply with a Hygiene Improvement Notice. 

Alistair Thomson, Head of Environmental Health 

and Trading Standards said: “This food business 

was being operated in an unhygienic manner and the 

owner failed to carry out simple and effective pest 

control measures to minimise the risks to food 

safety. The poor standards in this restaurant could 

have had serious consequences to customers. 

The vast majority of our food establishments in the 

Highlands have proper standards and serve their 

customers well. This should be taken as a warning to 

those who might fall below those standards.” 

35


by Colin Wallace 

EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 

The most recent meeting of the European Federation 

of Environmental Health (EFEH) was hosted by 

the Lithuanian Association in Vilnius, Lithuania on 

Saturday 25 April 2009 and was attended by 

representatives from Malta; England, Wales and 

Northern Ireland; Lithuania; Netherlands; Finland 

and Scotland. Bernard Forteath and I represented 

REHIS. 

The city of Vilnius is a mixture of beauty, mystery 

and magic and is the 2009 European City of Culture. 

The Old Town has been designated as a UNESCO 

World Heritage Site. 

The meeting commenced with an interesting 

presentation by the Director of the Healthy City 

Bureau outlining their health priorities, emphasising 

the development of healthy lifestyles for the citizens 

of Vilnius through exercise, clean environments, 

social integration and sustainable tourism. 

Ms Ingrida Zurlyte of the Lithuanian Union of 

Hygienists and Epidemiologists (LUHE) reported 

on a recently completed Environmental Health 

Performance Review in Lithuania which identified 

priorities as water and sanitation in rural areas, 

ambient air pollution including indoor environmental 

tobacco smoke and biological contaminants 

(moulds, etc), unintentional injuries particularly 

with regard to children and young people, noise, 

illegal dumping and landfill disposal. The Review 

had highlighted, however, that there is an overall 

improvement in general health and environmental 

parameters. 

Member updates 

The main agenda commenced with member updates 

summarised as follows: 

REHIS - The organisation is to relocate to new premises 

early next year and has been working with local 

government organisations in Scotland on an agreed 

employment scheme which will encourage councils 

to offer placement opportunities to Environmental 

Health Officer Student/Graduate Trainees. 

CIEH - Shortage of Student/Graduate Trainee EHO 

placement opportunities is also an issue in England, 

Wales and Northern Ireland. Efforts are being made 

at regional level to encourage the private sector 

to offer placement opportunities in addition to the 

public sector. 

EHOA (Ireland) - In Ireland the agencies employing 

EHOs are now in one national body with one national 

head and four area Chief EHOs forming a new 

management structure. EHOA (Ireland) have made 

the move to their new offices, Heraghty House in 

Bray, which was opened formally in November 2008. 

Late 2008 saw two food scares originating in Ireland 

involving salmonella and dioxins. 

Finnish Communal Association of Environmental 

Health and Protection - Finland has undergone an 

amalgamation and reorganisation of councils. 

Malta Association of Environmental Health Officers 

- Malta currently has one third of its permanent EHO 

posts vacant; there are not enough students coming 

forward onto the course to fill the vacancies. In terms 

of the service management structure there are two 

geographical areas each headed by a Senior EHO but 

the overall Director’s post is vacant. 

Dutch Association of Food Inspectors - The Food 

Safety Authority is now four years old. There will be 

a reorganisation soon with a new Board of Directors 

and the service will have overall responsibility for the 

complete food chain - ‘from farm to fork’. 

Other matters 

The issue of IFEH membership recruitment received 

considerable discussion and a formal application 

for membership from Portugal was received. Other 

matters discussed included the Practitioners’ Exchange; 

a useful document from Ray Ellard on definitions 

to ensure clarity for member organisations; and, 

Sustainability Indicators and a Climate Change 

Toolkit. 

Environmental Health in Disasters and 

Emergencies 

Sponsorship is currently being sought for the preparation 

of a training manual for volunteers. EHOA (Ireland), 

REHIS and CIEH have been asked to assist in the cost 

of training the volunteers; REHIS has confirmed its 

willingness to provide financial support and a response 

is awaited from EHOA (Ireland) and CIEH. 

Once the training manual and financial support is in 

place the first tranche of volunteers can be trained. 

World Congress 2012 

Whilst in Vilnius Bernard Forteath, President and Steve 

Cooper, Treasurer took the opportunity to visit the 

venue proposed for the Congress and found its setting 

and facilities to be exceptional. 

36


SEPA NEWS 

Operator Performance Assessment results published 

The annual Operator Performance Assessment 

(OPA) figures released by the Scottish Environment 

Protection Agency (SEPA) show that 91% of large 

or complex industrial sites in Scotland have passed 

their annual assessment. 

The figures are below SEPA’s 92% target. Of the 

405 sites covered by the Pollution Prevention and 

Control (PPC) regulations, 369 passed. Only 36 sites 

did not get a satisfactory result and should now expect 

increased regulatory activity, including additional 

inspections or specific audits, in the coming year. 

More information on OPA, including results for each 

site regulated by SEPA under PPC can be found at 

www.sepa.org.uk/OPA. 

New initiative to tackle flood skills shortage 

A new initiative involving SEPA and two of Scotland’s 

universities to address the shortage of skilled 

flooding experts has been launched in Scotland. 

Our full press release is available at www.sepa.org. 

uk/about_us/news/sepa_ announces_new_initiative. 

aspx. 

‘Buncefield type’ sites in Scotland 

Since the Buncefield explosion in 2005, the COMAH 

(Control of Major Accident Hazards) Competent 

Authority (which in Scotland is HSE together with 

SEPA) and industry have been working together 

to implement the lessons learned from the incident 

and changes aimed at improving safety at fuel 

storage sites. SEPA has been looking at secondary 

and tertiary containment systems, and found that none 

of the nine ‘Buncefield type’ sites in Scotland fully 

met the standards set out in the Containment Policy. 

SEPA requested improvement plans from all the sites 

and these have now been received. 

Wendy Thornton, a SEPA specialist in COMAH, 

said: “Securing improvements to prevent similar 

incidents at fuel storage depots has been, and 

continues to be, an important priority for the 

Competent Authority. Considerable work has already 

been carried out to improve safety at fuel storage 

sites and all the companies have made progress in 

implementing improvements. 

“The Competent Authority and industry are now 

better equipped to respond and recover more quickly 

in the event of a Buncefield type incident and 

improvements that have already been made to secondary 

and tertiary containment and mitigation measures 

mean that the impact on the environment would be 

lessened.” 

Scottish bathing waters season expected to be 

busy this year 

Day trippers, tourists and holidaymakers staying nearer 

home this year will want to have all the necessary 

information to ensure their seaside visit is a good one. 

SEPA is announcing the creation of new trainee posts 

within their flood risk science training programme. 

The successful candidates will work for SEPA on 

a part-time basis whilst also studying for Masters 

of Science (MSc) degrees at either the University 

of Dundee or Stirling. Once qualified, it is 

anticipated that successful graduates will be offered 

permanent jobs in SEPA, helping to deliver improved 

flood risk management for Scotland and meeting 

the challenges of the forthcoming Flooding Bill. 

37


As in previous years, results from SEPA’s monitoring 

of bathing water quality, which started on 1 June, 

are available online within a few days of sampling. 

SEPA’s bathing water signage system will operate 

daily, allowing beach visitors to know the predicted 

water quality conditions on electronic message boards 

at eleven locations and also by phone, online and text 

by 10.00 hours on the day of their visit. 

Calum McPhail, SEPA’s bathing water expert, said: 

“As has been the case in previous years, Scotland’s 

weather over the forthcoming bathing season will 

be a significant factor affecting the quality of bathing 

waters. To ensure that anyone who visits a bathing 

water has all the information they need for a safe 

visit, SEPA is encouraging them to visit our website. 

At signage sites look at the water quality forecast 

displayed on our electronic message board, or visit 

the SEPA website or call our Beachline number for 

a real time water quality forecast. Having this 

information lets visitors decide whether to participate 

in water activities or just enjoy the surroundings from 

the beach.” 

Prosecution round up 

Two Greenock men pled guilty to depositing waste 

tyres at Dunrod Road, Inverkip, and were fined £400 

each at Greenock Sheriff Court on 22 July. 

Cupar Sheriff Court handed down a fine of £2,500 to a 

Fife businessman after he was found guilty of depositing 

or knowingly permitting to be deposited controlled 

waste without a waste management licence. The case 

was heard on 22 July. 

Neil Morrison, one of SEPA’s investigating officers, 

said: “This site posed a number of potential risks to the 

environment. End-of-life-vehicles present considerable 

potential for soil and groundwater contamination 

should they leak fluids. The site is located close to the 

River Eden.” 

by Tom Bell, Chief Executive 

*** 

NEWS IN BRIEF 

Dr Debbie Henderson 

The Institute offers its sincere congratulations to 

Dr Debbie Henderson who recently graduated 

from the University of Strathclyde with a PhD 

degree. Debbie was the recipient of funding from 

the Institute’s General Reserve Fund to assist her 

with her postgraduate research into long-term human 

exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Pictured with 

Debbie are her fellow graduates and university staff, 

including Dr Iain Beverland (far left), Dr Tara Beattie 

(third from left) and Head of Department Professor 

Bob Kalin (fourth from right). Debbie has produced 

a number of reports for the Institute’s Journal and 

a further post-research report on her findings can 

be found on pages 5 to 10 of this edition of 

Environmental Health Scotland. Debbie’s thesis can 

be accessed at the REHIS office. 

Val Cameron 

Congratulations to EHO member Val Cameron, 

Team Leader with the States of Jersey, who has been 

appointed as Director of Environmental Health and 

Pollution Regulation with the States of Guernsey. 

Val, a Chartered EHO,starts her new job in October. 

Kevin Freeman 

Congratulations to EHO member Kevin Freeman, 

Director of Professional Development with REHIS, 

who has been appointed as a Regional Manager with 

the Scottish Government’s newly established 

Dr Debbie Henderson (second from left) 

at her recent graduation. 

Healthcare Environment Inspectorate.Kevin, 

a Chartered EHO, recently took up his new post. 

REHIS Travelling Scholarship 

Alison Mackay, an EHO member, has been awarded 

a Travelling Scholarship by the Institute to assist 

with travel and accommodation costs associated 

with a year long study and research visit to Malawi. 

Alison, an EHO with Aberdeenshire Council, set off 

for Malawi recently. 

38


THE ROYAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 

INSTITUTE OF SCOTLAND 

® 

The Institute was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee on 16th February 1983, to give effect to 

the amalgamation of The Royal Sanitary Association of Scotland and The Scottish Institute of Environmental 

Health. The Institute was Incorporated by Royal Charter on 8th March 2001, following which the Company 

was wound up. 

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, Number SC009406. 

The objects for which the Institute is established, contained in Article 3 of the Charter, are for the benefit of the 

community to promote the advancement of Environmental Health by: 

a. stimulating general interest in and disseminating knowledge concerning Environmental Health; 

b. promoting education and training in matters relating to Environmental Health; and 

c. maintaining, by examination or otherwise, high standards of professional practice and conduct on the part 

of Environmental Health Officers in Scotland. 

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland is an independent and self-financing organisation. It neither 

seeks nor receives grant aid. The Institute’s charitable activities are funded significantly by the subscriptions 

received from its members. 

The Institute’s affairs are managed by a Council which is elected by members. The Royal Environmental Health 

Institute of Scotland is a founding member of the International Federation of Environmental Health. 

The Institute frequently uses the acronym: REHIS ® . 

REHIS and the Crest device are registered trademarks of The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland. 

39

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