Factors influencing environment and human health by cement industry: Pakistan a case in point

Abstract

Purpose

Cement industry for both developed and developing countries is important from the economic point of view. It is playing a vital role in economic development of a developing country like Pakistan. However, these industries are posing threat to the environment, human health and plant species. The purpose of this paper is to identify the most critical factors of cement industry that have a negative impact on the environment, human health and plant species in the context of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The factors are categorized into air pollution, noise pollution, soil pollution, human health and plant species. These factors are categorized on the basis of previous literature and environmental safety reports. Air pollution is caused by iron and sulphur while noise pollution is mainly caused by crusher room and rotatory kiln end. The soil is being polluted by zinc and lead while human health and plant species are being damaged by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. For the analysis purpose, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, i.e., decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) is used.

Findings

The result shows that the major cause of air pollution is “sulphur” while “crusher room and rotatory kiln end” are responsible for noise pollution. On the other hand, “mercury” is responsible for causing soil pollution while human health and plant species are influenced by the toxic effect of “nitrogen dioxide.”

Research limitations/implications

The results obtained are specific to cement manufacturing industry of Pakistan and cannot be generalized for any other manufacturing sector.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology shows the most critical factors toward which concertation should be given for mitigating their impact. This study will help the government and the cement industry to focus on all those elements that are the most responsible for causing different types of pollution.

Originality/value

No such work is reported in previous research that proposes a framework using DEMATEL technique for analysis of critical factors of cement industries that have a dangerous impact on the environment and human health, especially in a developing country, like Pakistan.

Citation

Zeb, K., Ali, Y. and Khan, M.W. (2019), "Factors influencing environment and human health by cement industry: Pakistan a case in point", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 751-767. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-06-2018-0112