Off-label use of pesticides (i.e. application at inappropriate times and/or on unregistered crops) is a potential risk to the environment and human health. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of small lot farmers on the use, risk, and hazards associated with exposure to pesticides in the agricultural region of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. For the fulfillment of the objective, 124 small lot farmers of the province were surveyed. The results were analyzed from an initial descriptive analysis and then through an association analysis using the Chi-Square test and Spearman correlations, with the use of the statistical package SPSS version 20.0. The results showed that only 28.3 % of the farmers had received specific training on pesticides. Personal experience was the main driver for decisions about which pesticides to use and how to apply them. 35.8 % of the farmers stored pesticides in unmarked containers, such as soft drink bottles. The empty containers are stored to be incinerated (31.7 %) or reused (42.6 %) for pesticides, water, or fuel. Around 90 % of farmers do not use personal protection equipment. The study concludes that the lack of knowledge and personal protective equipment, inability to understand the labels, and low risk-perception are the main causes of exposure to pesticides and the health risk for workers and nearby residents, as well as damage to the environment.

The present Cuban economic model focuses on renewable sources of energy production, according to sustainable development strategies for 2030. However, the strategies do not consider biogas (or methane) due to, among other reasons, a lack of knowledge of its actual potential. Following the methodology of the batch anaerobic digestion process, the study shows the biomethane potential contained in the most critical agricultural solid wastesgenerated in Cuba, i.e., rice straw, cane straw, corn straw, bean straw, banana straw (leaves), coffee husk, and parchment coffee. Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) was assayed by lab-scale (585 ml) batch reactors, using the pig manure anaerobic sludge as inoculum under mesophilic conditions (35 ± 2 °C). Physicochemical parameters (total volatile solids, pH, alkalinity, volatile fatty acid concentration, and alkalinity ratio) were determined for processstability, quantifying the biogas production daily. Subsequently, the BMP was calculated for all substrates. The results showed that corn straw (0.42 l CH4 per gram of volatile solids) contained the highest biomethane potential. Stability on all systems was obtained, demonstrating the viability of the inoculum used to start digesters that treat this waste.The total potential methane obtained was 1258 106 m3/year, which is enough to generate 3,750 GWh of power per year—equivalent to 18 % of the total annual electricity generation in the country.

Background: Vegetables and rice produced in Cuba may contain residue of pesticides that exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Pesticide residues on crop samples from Sancti Spíritus province were analyzed. Based on these residue data, a risk assessment of consumer exposure was conducted.Methods: Samples collected during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 periods were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS and GC/ECD chromatography techniques. A deterministic risk assessment was performed, using consumption data collected by the authors. Also, a probabilistic risk assessment was worked out with @RISK for the Monte Carlo simulation.Results: A broad range of pesticides were detected in the samples. Most of the detected active ingredients were insecticides and fungicides. A considerable part of the detected pesticide residues exceeded the EU and Cuban MRLs. However, the deterministic risk assessment revealed that the consumer risk of pesticide exposure is low. Only in the maximum exposure scenario children and adults were exposed to methamidophos residues in tomatoes higher than the acceptable daily intake.Conclusions: When a more realistic consumption (50th percentile) and higher (95th percentile) consumption pattern for tomatoes was assumed, the deterministic risk assessment found no chronic risk for children and adults being exposed to methamidophos present in the tomato samples. Furthermore, the probabilistic risk assessment concerning methamidophos exposure in tomato for children and adult strata showed no risk. To perform in the future a more accurate risk assessment for Cuban consumers it is important to have more detailed consumption data and an expanded dataset of the residues in different crops.