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Food consumption and tobacco smoke are the main sources of toxic trace elements (TTE) for humans. To the present, no study has been carried out that assessed human exposure to TTE (Cd, Pb, As, Ni, Cr, Cu, and Co) through the consumption of the tomatoes, rice, and tobacco crops grown in the Sancti Spiritus territory of Cuba. Accordingly, the main goal of this study was to assess which metals and crops should receive priority attention for metal pollution management in the local environment. Combining residue element analysis in crops with consumption data collected from a survey, a deterministic exposure assessment was performed. The study identified that priority attention should be focused on Ni and Cd. First, the average concentration of Ni in tomato and rice was found above their reference limits. As a consequence, the concentration of Ni represented a risk to the maximum scenario of children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Together with Ni, Cd, and Cu also contribute slightly to the cumulative risk. Then, Cd and Ni were quantified in tobacco smoke at a concentration that represented an equal risk to both active and passive smokers. Concentrations high enough to hazard from these toxic elements. The study helped to identify children as the highest stratum at risk of developing adverse health effects due to exposure to Ni and Cd. The results obtained from the basis for future research aimed at reducing the polluting pressure of TTE on human health and the environment.

La presente investigación se propone socializar una metodología de intervención social en comunidades rurales aisladas del sistema eléctrico nacional cubano, para la implementación de soluciones tecnológicas que emplean las fuentes renovables de energía disponibles. La metodología concibe la intervención como una herramienta de gestión para mediar y promover la participación de los diferentes actores y la apropiación social de las tecnologías, en función de la equidad y el autodesarrollo comunitario. También se explicitan los fundamentos teóricos, legales, requerimientos y principios que la sostienen, detallándose los componentes instrumentales que permiten su aplicación, a partir de cuatro etapas de desarrollo, sus objetivos, métodos y procedimientos.

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Rice harvesting and production generates a residual biomass that does not possess an environmentally sustainable disposition route; however, it could be an important carbon source for energetic processes. In this paper the energetic potential via cogeneration that can be obtained from the biogas resulting from the anaerobic treatment of the rice-harvesting wastes (rice straw), for the case of the Cuban Enterprise “Sur del Jibaro”, is estimated. Through a life cycle analysis, an assessment of the environmental profile, when using this treatment alternative, is carried out. The results prove that with the anaerobic treatment of the rice straw available, it could be profitably obtained a potential to generate 10 MW of electrical power and 15 MW of thermal power. This would also decrease the total greenhouse gas emissions in Cuba by 0.2% and the equivalent emissions of the Cuban energetic sector by 3.2%.