Environmental and socio-economic impacts of cement industry on communities living near cement plants in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2010 to 2024: scoping reviews

Background Cement production is known to contribute significantly to the growth of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); its booming growth has cast significant concerns about the environmental and socio-economic effects, it has on the immediate inhabitants living around the projects. Method Using the JBI and PRISMA-ScR criteria, this scoping review was a compilation of peer-reviewed materials published between 2010 and 2024 on social socioeconomic impact. The number of studies in Asia and Africa was nineteen, and all of them demonstrated a certain pattern of negative impact on the local environment and human health. In all the researched papers, there was a significant amount of air pollution, and plants produced the dust and dangerous gases in large quantities. The quality of air often surpasses disadvantages to a point of causing health-related issues among the communities, such as coughing, wheezing, and eye irritation, among other respiratory symptoms, and this may decrease crop yields. Water pollution was also a critical issue because wastewater and runoff moved sediment, oil, and chemical toxins to rivers and groundwater, making the sources of water unhealthy. The blasting of mines to extract raw materials and heavy machinery in cement plants are the cause of loud noise pollution, which has been identified as the source of severe stress and sleep disorders in communities. Cement plants do not offer many jobs and fewer infrastructures, but these advantages were not enough. Plants primarily employ outsiders permanently and the native agriculturalists lost their land without being compensated. The dislocation, cultural interference, and clash between the plant operators were the order of the day. Findings: The findings highlighted the fact that more stringent rules and protection of the residents are needed. Conclusion The governments ought to adopt emission control pollution checking and involve the residents who will be affected in the decision-making process. More modern and current technologies should be employed in cement plants, and the economic gains genuinely shared with the natives.