Journal Article

Conocimiento y uso práctico de plaguicidas en Cuba

Houbraken, Michael, Romero Romero, Osvaldo, Du Laing, Gijs, Spanoghe, Pieter, López Dávila, Edelbis, Ramos Torres, Liliana

2020

Overview

The unauthorized use of pesticides applied at inappropriate times and/or in unregistered crops is a potential risk to the environment and also to human health. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of farmers on the use, risk, and hazards associated with the exposure to pesticides in the agricultural region of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. To comply with the objective, 124 farmers of this province were surveyed. The results were analyzed initially through a descriptive analysis and then, performing an association analysis using the Chi-Square test and Spearman ́s correla-tions, employing 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 de-cisions about which pesticides to use and how it would be applied. About 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 the farmers surveyed do not use personal protective equipment. The study concludes that the lack of knowledge and use of personal protective equi-pment, the inability to understand the labels and also the low risk-perception are the main causes of exposure to pesticides and the health risk for workers and nearby residents, as well as the damages caused to the environment. El uso no autorizado de plaguicidas, como la aplicación en momentos inadecuados o en cultivos no registrados, es un riesgo potencial para el medio ambiente y la salud humana. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el nivel de conocimiento y concientización entre los agricultores sobre el uso, riesgo y peli-gros asociados con la exposición a plaguicidas en la región agrícola de Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. Para el desarrollo del objetivo se encuestaron 124 campesinos de la provincia. Los resultados fueron analizados a partir de un análisis descriptivo inicial y luego a través de un análisis de asociación mediante la prueba Chi-Cuadrado y Correlaciones de Spearman, empleando el paquete estadístico SPSS versión 20.0. Los resultados mostraron que solo el 28,3 % de los agricultores había recibido capacitación específica en plaguicidas. La experiencia personal es el principal impulsor de las decisiones sobre qué plaguicidas usar y cómo utilizarlo. El 35,8 % de los agricultores almacenó plaguicidas en recipientes sin marcar, como botellas de refrescos. Los contenedores vacíos se almacenan para ser incinerados (31,7 %) o reutilizados (42,6 %) para plaguicidas, agua o gasolina. Alrededor del 90 % de los agricultores no utiliza equipos de protección personal. El estudio concluye que la falta de conocimiento, el no uso de equipo de protección personal, la incapacidad para entender las etiquetas y la baja percepción de riesgos son las principales causas de la exposición a los plaguicidas y el riesgo para la salud de los trabajadores y residentes cercanos, así como de los daños al medio ambiente.

• Subject: 124 farmers of this province were surveyed / 3 % of the farmers had received specific training on pesticides / 6 %) for pesticides / 7 %) or reused / 8 % of the farmers stored pesticides in unmarked containers / About 35 / and hazards associated with the exposure to pesticides in the agricultural region of Sancti Spíritus / Around 90 % of the farmers surveyed do not use personal protective equipment / as well as the damages caused to the environment / cisions about which pesticides to use and how it would be applied / Cuba / employing the statistical package SPSS version 20 / equipos de protección personal / exposición ocupacional / Key words: occupational exposure / occupational exposure / or fuel / or in unregistered crops is a potential risk to the environment and also to human health / organofosforados / organophosphates / pequeños agricultores / perception are the main causes of exposure to pesticides and the health risk for workers and nearby residents / performing an association analysis using the Chi / Personal experience was the main driver for de / personal protection equipment / plant protection products / pment / productos fitosanitariosAbstractThe unauthorized use of pesticides applied at inappropriate times and / risk / small lot farmers / small lot farmers2 / Square test and Spearman ́s correla / such as soft drink bottles / The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of farmers on the use / The empty containers are stored to be incinerated / the inability to understand the labels and also the low risk / The results showed that only 28 / The results were analyzed initially through a descriptive analysis and then / The study concludes that the lack of knowledge and use of personal protective equi / tions / To comply with the objective / water