Brian McHugh
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brianmchugh.bsky.social
Brian McHugh
@brianmchugh.bsky.social
5.7K followers 2.3K following 680 posts
Writer for Yorkshire Bylines in the UK
https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/author/brianmchugh/

Climate Book reviewer at https://climatewithbrian.com/
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brianmchugh.bsky.social
Brian McHugh @brianmchugh.bsky.social · Dec 16
UK Inland bathing sites polluted with 'perfect storm'of chemical cocktails

@bylinesnetwork.bsky.social
@yorksbylines.bsky.social
@bylinetimes.bsky.social

yorkshirebylines.co.uk/region/uk-in...
UK inland bathing sites polluted with ‘perfect storm’ of chemical cocktails
A new study reveals UK rivers are polluted with harmful chemicals and antibiotic-resistant genes, endangering health and ecosystems
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Staying at home could leave you exposed to indoor air pollution, study reveals

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Staying at home could leave you exposed to indoor air pollution, study reveals
Secondhand tobacco smoke and routine tasks such as operating the stove shown to be biggest emitters of indoor pollution in UK homes
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Brian McHugh
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Enck and Mahoney peel back the veneer of company 'plastic-washing' & false promises to challenge the dominant and overwhelming narrative from the plastic industry behemoth.

'The Problem with Plastic'
Judith Enck and Adam Mahoney

climatewithbrian.com/2025/12/24/r...
Review of ‘The Problem With Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late’ by Judith Enck and Adam Mahoney
Plastic pollution and contamination sadly seems to be so ingrained into our environment that yet another book on the issue appears to be superfluous. That being said, Enck and Mahoney peel back the…
climatewithbrian.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Brian McHugh
edhawkins.org
It is likely that 2025 will be the warmest year on record for the UK.

Why does this matter?

Burning fossil fuels is warming the planet, including the UK, causing heatwaves to get hotter. For Central England this is happening 2x faster than the mean change.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
December 23, 2025 at 10:51 AM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Enck and Mahoney peel back the veneer of company 'plastic-washing' & false promises to challenge the dominant and overwhelming narrative from the plastic industry behemoth.

'The Problem with Plastic'
Judith Enck and Adam Mahoney

climatewithbrian.com/2025/12/24/r...
Review of ‘The Problem With Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late’ by Judith Enck and Adam Mahoney
Plastic pollution and contamination sadly seems to be so ingrained into our environment that yet another book on the issue appears to be superfluous. That being said, Enck and Mahoney peel back the…
climatewithbrian.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Brian McHugh
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Trump’s shuttering of the National Center for Atmospheric Research is Stalinist

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump’s shuttering of the National Center for Atmospheric Research is Stalinist | Michael Mann and Bob Ward
This is the latest in the relentless purge of climate researchers who refuse to be co-opted by the fossil fuel industry
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:38 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
People in poorest areas of England ‘more likely to need emergency care for lung conditions’

Analysis finds those from most deprived backgrounds almost twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for respiratory conditions

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
People in poorest areas of England ‘more likely to need emergency care for lung conditions’
Analysis finds those from most deprived backgrounds almost twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for respiratory conditions
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:36 AM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Trump’s shuttering of the National Center for Atmospheric Research is Stalinist

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump’s shuttering of the National Center for Atmospheric Research is Stalinist | Michael Mann and Bob Ward
This is the latest in the relentless purge of climate researchers who refuse to be co-opted by the fossil fuel industry
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:38 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
How global seafood trade is moving ‘forever chemicals’ from contaminated waters to dinner plates

#PFAS
share.google/oUrJcg0gDQ01...
Seafood trade is moving ‘forever chemicals’ from contaminated waters to dinner plates
New study finds consumption patterns and trade matter as much as where fish are caught
share.google
December 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Brian McHugh
brianmchugh.bsky.social
‘The current likelihood of experiencing another COVID-19-like event in one’s lifetime is 38%, a figure that may double in the coming decades due to increasing rates of disease emergence.’

'The Nature of Pandemics' by Jake M. Robinson
@jake1.bsky.social

climatewithbrian.com/2025/12/19/r...
Review of ‘The Nature of Pandemics: Why Protecting Biodiversity is Key to Human Survival’ by Jake M. Robinson
Robinson’s latest book, The Nature of Pandemics could not have come at a more timely moment, as hospital admissions of flu patients in the UK rose by 55% in one week owing to a winter ‘super …
climatewithbrian.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Brian McHugh
drpauldorfman.bsky.social
Don’t stop be-leafin’: how urban greening can help save threatened species
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Don’t stop be-leafin’: how urban greening can help save threatened species
Planting even small pockets of native vegetation can be a boon for wildlife seeking refuge in our cities
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:56 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Is there a decent site to sell second hand books?
Ideally one which doesn't offer 17p for a £20 hardback which has been read once...
December 19, 2025 at 3:53 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
‘The current likelihood of experiencing another COVID-19-like event in one’s lifetime is 38%, a figure that may double in the coming decades due to increasing rates of disease emergence.’

'The Nature of Pandemics' by Jake M. Robinson
@jake1.bsky.social

climatewithbrian.com/2025/12/19/r...
Review of ‘The Nature of Pandemics: Why Protecting Biodiversity is Key to Human Survival’ by Jake M. Robinson
Robinson’s latest book, The Nature of Pandemics could not have come at a more timely moment, as hospital admissions of flu patients in the UK rose by 55% in one week owing to a winter ‘super …
climatewithbrian.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
They survived wildfires. But something else is killing Greece’s iconic fir forests

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
They survived wildfires. But something else is killing Greece’s iconic fir forests
In the Peloponnese mountains, the usually hardy trees are turning brown even where fires haven’t reached. Experts are raising the alarm on a complex crisis
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:54 AM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
UK’s largest proposed datacentre ‘understating planned water use’

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK’s largest proposed datacentre ‘understating planned water use’
Analysis suggests consumption at Northumberland site could be 50 times higher than US operator QTS estimates
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:52 AM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
'Everything is worse since Drax came here’: US residents say wood-pellet plant harming their town

#Drax

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Everything is worse since Drax came here’: US residents say wood-pellet plant harming their town
Residents of Gloster, Mississippi, are suing plant that exports wood pellets to UK and Europe. Company says it is reducing emissions
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Brian McHugh
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Arctic endured year of record heat as climate scientists warn of ‘winter being redefined’
share.google/YExhIEjKPVhA...
Arctic endured year of record heat as climate scientists warn of ‘winter being redefined’
Region known as ‘world’s refrigerator’ is heating up as much as four times as quickly as global average, Noaa experts say
share.google
December 16, 2025 at 9:26 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Arctic endured year of record heat as climate scientists warn of ‘winter being redefined’
share.google/YExhIEjKPVhA...
Arctic endured year of record heat as climate scientists warn of ‘winter being redefined’
Region known as ‘world’s refrigerator’ is heating up as much as four times as quickly as global average, Noaa experts say
share.google
December 16, 2025 at 9:26 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Why so many 'hazardous' plastic beads in River Irwell?

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Why are there so many 'hazardous' plastic beads in River Irwell?
The black pellets known as bio-beads are found in large numbers beside the River Irwell in Bury.
www.bbc.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Brian McHugh
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Workers were exposed to toxic chemicals in firefighting foam

This is the tip of the iceberg

#PFAS

www.bbc.com/news/article...
3M workers in Swansea exposed to toxic chemicals in firefighting foam
For decades it was 3M's biggest outside the US, and the factory made nappy fastenings and video tape.
www.bbc.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:38 AM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Workers were exposed to toxic chemicals in firefighting foam

This is the tip of the iceberg

#PFAS

www.bbc.com/news/article...
3M workers in Swansea exposed to toxic chemicals in firefighting foam
For decades it was 3M's biggest outside the US, and the factory made nappy fastenings and video tape.
www.bbc.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Reposted by Brian McHugh
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Morrisons becomes first UK supermarket to delay net zero targets

We don't have 15 years to waste

www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Morrisons becomes first UK supermarket to delay net zero targets
Britain’s fifth-biggest grocer postpones goal by 15 years to 2050, saying revised plan will now cover entire supply chain
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:35 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Morrisons becomes first UK supermarket to delay net zero targets

We don't have 15 years to waste

www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Morrisons becomes first UK supermarket to delay net zero targets
Britain’s fifth-biggest grocer postpones goal by 15 years to 2050, saying revised plan will now cover entire supply chain
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:35 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Glaciers to reach peak rate of extinction in the Alps in eight years
share.google/C0QoHBWLaqph...
Glaciers to reach peak rate of extinction in the Alps in eight years
Climate crisis forecast to wipe out thousands of glaciers a year globally, threatening water supplies and cultural heritage
share.google
December 15, 2025 at 8:29 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
Picked up from the bookshop today

#TheNatureOfPandemics
December 11, 2025 at 5:27 PM
brianmchugh.bsky.social
New research links household air pollution to lung cancer and heart disease

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
New research links household air pollution to lung cancer and heart disease
Household air pollution rarely dominates headlines, yet it claims millions of lives each year
www.independent.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM