Metallurgical plants - industries which specialize in the science, technology, and processing of metals; these plants produce highly concentrated and toxic wastes which can contribute to pollution of ground water and air when not properly disposed.

noxious substances - injurious, very harmful to living beings.

Overgrazing - the grazing of animals on plant material faster than it can naturally regrow leading to the permanent loss of plant cover, a common effect of too many animals grazing limited range land.

Ozone shield - a layer of the atmosphere composed of ozone gas (O₃) that resides approximately 25 miles above the Earth's surface and absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation that can be harmful to living organisms.

Poaching - the illegal killing of animals or fish, a great concern with respect to endangered or threatened species.

Pollution - the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made waste.
Potable water- water that is drinkable, safe to be consumed. Salinization- the process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes salt (undrinkable) water; hence, desalination is the reverse process; also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by evaporation of excessive irrigation water, a process that can eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops.

Siltation - occurs when water channels and reservoirs become clotted with silt and mud, a side effect of deforestation and soil erosion.
Slash-and-burn agriculture- a rotating cultivation technique in which trees are cut down and burned in order to clear land for temporary agriculture; the land is used until its productivity declines at which point a new plot is selected and the process repeats; this practice is sustainable while population levels are low and time is permitted for regrowth of natural vegetation; conversely, where these conditions do not exist, the practice can have disastrous consequences for the environment.

Soil degradation- damage to the land's productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products.

Soil erosion- the removal of soil by the action of water or wind, compounded by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and desertification.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation- a portion of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun and naturally filtered in the upper atmosphere by the ozone layer; UV radiation can be harmful to living organisms and has been linked to increasing rates of skin cancer in humans.

Water-born diseases - those in which the bacteria survive in, and is transmitted through, water; always a serious threat in areas with an untreated water supply.

Environment, current issues:

Air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Environment, international agreements:

Party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation.

Pollution in Cuba

Air, Water, Ground: Air Pollution is serious. Cuba relies on trucks, buses and automobiles for transport which were built before 1959. They spew endless clouds of foul oily fumes which subvert respiratory tract of drivers, passengers and residents along Cuban streets and highways. As in the USA, Cuban government relies upon the tobacco industry for revenue. Cigars and Cigarette smoking contaminate the air in restaurants, hotels, homes and factories...when mixed with auto emissions and factory emissions, Cuban citizens imbibe a deadly cocktail of fumes.

Water pollution around farms, factories and large cities continues to challenge Cuban resources. Water supply in most places is safe to drink even if in short supply on occasion. One does not smell the odor of human sewage in Havana or other large cities as often is the case in other 3rd world countries...but basic equipment is old an in disrepair. Flush Toilets, wash bowls and shower stalls do not always work as North Americans come to expect.

Ground pollution is not a great problem in Cuba...the vast tonnage of toxic wastes found in industrial cities in Europe and the Americas is not yet a problem in Cuba. In Havana, countless tons of debris accumulate on the streets from construction, renovation and demolition. More an eyesore than a health hazard, such trash further deters from the beauty and charm of a world class city.

The paper presents a review of what is known about environmental degradation and vulnerability in Cuba. It has sections on air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, soil degradation, decaying urban infrastructure, and hazards and disasters. It outlines some of the worst environmental abuses known to date: poor air quality in the City of Havana; water pollution in the Bay of Havana and the Almendares River; the multiple problems of the town of Nuevitas, a major industrial hub; the decline of the Cauto River basin; the growth of saline soils in eastern Cuba, Camaguey, Sancti Spiritus, and Pinar del Rio Provinces; lack of access to fresh water; decaying sewage systems; and the disastrous impact of these environmental degradations on public health and agricultural production.