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Scotsman
01-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Call a professional if pigeons are a problem, says BPCA
Call a professional if pigeons are a problem The breeding season for feral pigeons is well underway – and while the birds can become a problem around homes and businesses, it is essential anyone experiencing issues get in touch with a professional, say experts at British Pest Control Association (BPCA). Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Pigeons – like all wild birds, their nests and eggs – are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which means anyone who disturbs them and who is not operating under an appropriate licence, may face prosecution. In certain circumstances, management and control techniques may be required, but anyone concerned about pigeons should always seek advice from a BPCA member who specialises in bird control. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Niall Gallagher is Technical Manager at BPCA. He said: 'The breeding season for pigeons is between March and September. 'In that time, they can have up to seven broods, with two or three eggs in each. With enough food, young pigeons become independent adults in just 30 days and more eggs can be hatched before the young have even left the nest, which means a population can grow rapidly. [1] 'If pigeons are becoming a problem around a home or business, it is vital that advice is sought from a BPCA member or appropriate professional. Interfering with a wild bird, their nest or eggs is illegal, so do not consider any form of DIY pest control.' Pigeons can reportedly carry around 110 pathogens, and can spread disease to humans, as well as potentially causing secondary infestations of mites, ticks, fleas and beetles that live on their bodies and in their nests. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Niall added: 'Pigeon droppings are a public health risk and, in some circumstances, a potential slip hazard, once dry, pigeon droppings can become airborne in small particles, which can lead to respiratory complaints. 'The most effective way to deter pigeons from a particular site is to remove food sources. Bins should be kept securely closed, ensure the area is free of litter and debris and clear up any spills. 'Regularly flying a bird of prey in the area can be useful, but if pigeons are becoming a cause for concern, seek advice from a BPCA member.' BPCA member businesses are endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme as they must carry the correct insurances and are trained and qualified technicians who are assessed to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA's Codes of Best Practice. To find a BPCA member visit:
Scotsman
01-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Call a professional if pigeons are a problem, says BPCA
Call a professional if pigeons are a problem The breeding season for feral pigeons is well underway – and while the birds can become a problem around homes and businesses, it is essential anyone experiencing issues get in touch with a professional, say experts at British Pest Control Association (BPCA). Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Pigeons – like all wild birds, their nests and eggs – are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which means anyone who disturbs them and who is not operating under an appropriate licence, may face prosecution. In certain circumstances, management and control techniques may be required, but anyone concerned about pigeons should always seek advice from a BPCA member who specialises in bird control. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Niall Gallagher is Technical Manager at BPCA. He said: 'The breeding season for pigeons is between March and September. 'In that time, they can have up to seven broods, with two or three eggs in each. With enough food, young pigeons become independent adults in just 30 days and more eggs can be hatched before the young have even left the nest, which means a population can grow rapidly. [1] 'If pigeons are becoming a problem around a home or business, it is vital that advice is sought from a BPCA member or appropriate professional. Interfering with a wild bird, their nest or eggs is illegal, so do not consider any form of DIY pest control.' Pigeons can reportedly carry around 110 pathogens, and can spread disease to humans, as well as potentially causing secondary infestations of mites, ticks, fleas and beetles that live on their bodies and in their nests. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Niall added: 'Pigeon droppings are a public health risk and, in some circumstances, a potential slip hazard, once dry, pigeon droppings can become airborne in small particles, which can lead to respiratory complaints. 'The most effective way to deter pigeons from a particular site is to remove food sources. Bins should be kept securely closed, ensure the area is free of litter and debris and clear up any spills. 'Regularly flying a bird of prey in the area can be useful, but if pigeons are becoming a cause for concern, seek advice from a BPCA member.' BPCA member businesses are endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme as they must carry the correct insurances and are trained and qualified technicians who are assessed to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA's Codes of Best Practice.
Scottish Sun
23-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
‘Do not buy' warning to parents over 3 major suncream brands that won't properly protect children this summer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PARENTS have been warned against three major suncream brands ahead of the summer holidays. These products were found to not offer significant protection to children in the hot weather. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A study was carried out to determine the effectiveness of popular suncream brands for protecting your children (stock image) Credit: Getty 4 The Morrisons SPF 30 Sun Spray is currently available for £3.75 Credit: Morrisons Which? carried out a series of tests to determine the effectiveness of popular suncream brands ahead of the peak summer season. The independent lab exams tested sun creams that pass British Standard tests for UVA and UVB sun protection. However, the tests uncovered three suncreams which failed either the UVA or UVB tests or both. According to the outlet, this means they don't provide the protection they claim. First on the list is the Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30, available for £3.75. Which? claimed this suncream failed SPF tests, which verify if the product can provide the claimed levels of protection from UVB rays. The outlet said it tested the suncream twice to confirm the result and it failed both times. However, the product did pass the UVA test carried out independently by Which?. "We work closely with our supplier and conduct extensive efficacy and safety testing during product development," said a Morrisons representative. "As such all our sun care products are tested to the relevant industry test standards and are not approved for launch until they meet these standards. Man reveals very unusual suncream hack and not everyone is convinced "During development and production all tested variants consistently achieved an SPF of 30." In direct response to the Which? report, the spokesperson told The Sun: "We have retested the SPF against the British and International Standard and can confirm the product has achieved an SPF value of 34.5 and can therefore be labelled as SPF 30." The second suncream on the Which? no-go list is the Ultrasun Family SPF30, available for £22.40 from Boots. The outlet said the product failed a UVA test by not meeting the minimum required level in a first and second test. However, Which? reported that the suncream did pass SPF tests, but said it couldn't recommend it due to failing one of the required tests. The importance of sun cream in your skincare routine Dermatologist and skincare enthusiast Andrea Suarez - known as Dr Dray - revealed why you should wear suncream. The one thing you can do that will make the biggest difference - and this matters for all ages - is protecting your skin from the sun, Andrea stressed. "The vast majority of external aging is due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation," she continued, not because you're "not using some jazzy serum or layering 90 different things on your face everyday". "If you're not doing in your 20s, get on that now." But she said the use of sun cream alone doesn't go far enough. Andrea urged that you also wear sun-protective clothing like broad-brimmed hats and long sleeves, on top of not staying out too long in the sun. Doing this over your lifetime - and all year, not just during the summer or on sunny days - "will reduce the visible signs of photoageing", Andrea said. Those are wrinkles, muddled pigmentation and sagging skin. Ultrasun disputed the findings, telling the publication: "Ultrasun is fully confident in our testing protocols. "As an independent brand delivering very high UVB and UVA protection options for over 30 years, our detailed testing processes continue to not only meet but surpass industry standards. "Our chosen testing protocol is one of the strictest available, and our UVB and UVA filters are tested both in-vitro and in-vivo. "We conclusively support the results of our independent tests which found the Ultrasun Family SPF30 reached a UVB-SPF in vivo of 31.4 and a UVA-PF in vitro of 13.1, which equates to a 92% UVA absorbance." 4 The Ultrasun Family 30SPF Sun Protection is available for £22.40 from Boots Credit: Boots Finally, Which? claimed the Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High, £2.66, also failed to deliver when tested. According to the outlet, tests did not confrim the product's claimed SPF30 in both an initial test or a retest. When contacted by The Sun, a spokesperson for Asda offered an update. "We recently had our Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 High re-tested by a leading external provider using internationally recognised testing methods," they said. "These test results confirmed that this product has a sun protection factor of 31.5, and therefore we do not recognise the test results Which? has published. 'When Which? reviewed this same product in 2022, they awarded it 'Great Value' at that time and it also passed their SPF test. "The product formulation has not changed since then, so we would question the validity of their test.'
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Do not buy' warning to parents over 3 major suncream brands that won't properly protect children this summer
PARENTS have been warned against three major suncream brands ahead of the summer holidays. These products were found to not offer significant protection to children in the hot weather. 4 Which? carried out a series of tests to determine the effectiveness of popular suncream brands ahead of the peak summer season. The independent lab exams tested sun creams that pass British Standard tests for UVA and UVB sun protection. However, the tests uncovered three suncreams which failed either the UVA or UVB tests or both. According to the outlet, this means they don't provide the protection they claim. First on the list is the Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30, available for £3.75. Which? claimed this suncream failed SPF tests, which verify if the product can provide the claimed levels of protection from UVB rays. The outlet said it tested the suncream twice to confirm the result and it failed both times. However, the product did pass the UVA test carried out independently by Which?. "We work closely with our supplier and conduct extensive efficacy and safety testing during product development," said a Morrisons representative. "As such all our sun care products are tested to the relevant industry test standards and are not approved for launch until they meet these standards. "During development and production all tested variants consistently achieved an SPF of 30." In direct response to the Which? report, the spokesperson told The Sun: "We have retested the SPF against the British and International Standard and can confirm the product has achieved an SPF value of 34.5 and can therefore be labelled as SPF 30." The second suncream on the Which? no-go list is the Ultrasun Family SPF30, available for £22.40 from Boots. The outlet said the product failed a UVA test by not meeting the minimum required level in a first and second test. However, Which? reported that the suncream did pass SPF tests, but said it couldn't recommend it due to failing one of the required tests. The importance of sun cream in your skincare routine Dermatologist and skincare enthusiast Andrea Suarez - known as Dr Dray - revealed why you should wear suncream. The one thing you can do that will make the biggest difference - and this matters for all ages - is protecting your skin from the sun, Andrea stressed. "The vast majority of external aging is due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation," she continued, not because you're "not using some jazzy serum or layering 90 different things on your face everyday". "If you're not doing in your 20s, get on that now." But she said the use of sun cream alone doesn't go far enough. Andrea urged that you also wear sun-protective clothing like broad-brimmed hats and long sleeves, on top of not staying out too long in the sun. Doing this over your lifetime - and all year, not just during the summer or on sunny days - "will reduce the visible signs of photoageing", Andrea said. Those are wrinkles, muddled pigmentation and sagging skin. Ultrasun disputed the findings, telling the publication: "Ultrasun is fully confident in our testing protocols. "As an independent brand delivering very high UVB and UVA protection options for over 30 years, our detailed testing processes continue to not only meet but surpass industry standards. "Our chosen testing protocol is one of the strictest available, and our UVB and UVA filters are tested both in-vitro and in-vivo. "We conclusively support the results of our independent tests which found the Ultrasun Family SPF30 reached a UVB-SPF in vivo of 31.4 and a UVA-PF in vitro of 13.1, which equates to a 92% UVA absorbance." Finally, Which? claimed the Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 High, £2.66, also failed to deliver when tested. According to the outlet, tests did not confrim the product's claimed SPF30 in both an initial test or a retest. When contacted by The Sun, a spokesperson for Asda offered an update. "We recently had our Asda Protect Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 High re-tested by a leading external provider using internationally recognised testing methods," they said. "These test results confirmed that this product has a sun protection factor of 31.5, and therefore we do not recognise the test results Which? has published. 'When Which? reviewed this same product in 2022, they awarded it 'Great Value' at that time and it also passed their SPF test. "The product formulation has not changed since then, so we would question the validity of their test.'
India Today
09-06-2025
- India Today
Stability, resistance, long-lasting: The incredible engineering behind Chenab bridge
The Chenab Bridge, now standing as the world's highest railway arch bridge in Jammu & Kashmir, is a marvel of India's engineering prowess and 359 metres above the Chenab River and spanning a breathtaking 1,315 metres, the bridge is taller than the Eiffel Tower and connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India by construction has been hailed as one of the country's most ambitious infrastructure projects, overcoming formidable geological, logistical, and technical challenges. According to a press statement issued by the railway ministry, flight pilots are making special announcements and passengers are showing eagerness to capture photographs of the Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway-arch bridge. ( PTI Photo) advertisementEngineering and Design Innovations The bridge's design is a unique steel arch, the first of its kind in India. With no existing national codes for such structures, engineers relied on international best practices, notably the British Standard BS: team led by Professor Madhavi Latha worked on the main arch that spans 469 metres, supported by two massive 130-metre-high pylons, and features 17 spans in structure is built to withstand extreme conditions: wind speeds up to 260 km/h, seismic activity up to magnitude 8, and temperatures as low as -20C. To ensure resilience, the bridge uses 63mm-thick blast-proof steel and concrete pillars designed to resist explosions and terrorist threats. Construction Challenges and SolutionsConstructing in the rugged Himalayan terrain posed unprecedented challenges. Access was so difficult that initial transport of materials relied on mules and time, temporary roads—11 km on the north bank and 12 km on the south—were built to facilitate the movement of heavy machinery and construction equipment. The project required 25,000 tonnes of steel, 4,000 tonnes of reinforced steel, and 46,000 cubic metres of of the most critical aspects was ensuring the stability of the steep slopes. Prof. G Madhavi Latha from IISc Bengaluru played a pivotal role, advising on slope stability and foundation design, adapting to the unpredictable Himalayan geology with a 'design-as-you-go' approach. A newly-inaugurated Vande Bharat Express train crosses the Chenab Bridge, in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (PTI Photo) Technological and Safety FeaturesThe bridge's construction used the world's tallest crossbar cable cranes and specialized heavy techniques were employed for the arch erection, with both banks gradually building towards the centre until the arch was joined at the crown in April 2021—a moment of triumph for the protect against corrosion, a special paint with a 15-year lifespan was applied, far exceeding the standard for Indian railway bridges. An advanced online monitoring and warning system ensures passenger safety, and aerial security measures are in place to safeguard the a projected lifespan of 120 years, the Chenab bridge stands as a symbol of India's resolve to conquer its most formidable challenges with ingenuity and courage. The project's success is a tribute to the collaboration of Indian and international experts, and a beacon of progress for the nation's infrastructure InMust Watch
