From Mines To Medicines: The Role Of Community Pharmacists In Protecting Populations Near Phosphate Mining Sites

Community pharmacy, Phosphate mining, Environmental hazards, Public Health, Pharmaceutical care.

1MOHD IMRAN,
Center for Health Research,
Northern Border University, Arar 73213, Saudi Arabia.
E-mail:[email protected];
ORCID: 0000-0002-6064-1040

2RUMAISA HAYAT,
Department of Environmental Science,
Integral University, Lucknow-226026, India.
E-mail:[email protected]; ORCID: 0009-0008-7982-3531

3BANDAR THEYAB ALENEZI,
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Northern
Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
(E-mail:[email protected]; ORCID: 0009-00062758-5581)

4NADEEM AHMAD SIDDIQUE,
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Hafr Al
Batin, Hafar Al Batin, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(E-mail: [email protected]; ORCID: 00000002-1584-4877)

5NEELAM SINGLA, Department of Pharmacy,
Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan,
India.
(E-mail:[email protected]; ORCID: 0000-0002-3583-7025)

6*ABIDA KHAN, Center for Health Research,
Northern Border University, Arar 73213, Saudi Arabia.
(Email: [email protected]; ORCID: 0000-0001-6186-461X)

Received:15-05-2026
Revised:19-06-2026
Accepted:25-06-2026

European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry (2026) 34(7s), 62-71

From Mines To Medicines: The Role Of Community Pharmacists In Protecting Populations Near Phosphate Mining Sites

Phosphate mining is a source of fertilizer production; but particulate matter, silica, fluoride, heavy metals, radionuclides, and other contaminants can be released into the air, water, soil, and food-chain pathways during phosphate extraction, beneficiation, phosphoric acid manufacture, and phosphogypsum disposal. This narrative review outlines the community health impacts of phosphate mining and examines the potential contribution of community pharmacy to the protection of populations of those living near mining and processing sites. The literature was sorted out from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, primarily from 2015 to 2026, and some former basic works were also selected. Narrative synthesis was conducted on the routes of exposure, priority contaminants, health outcomes, vulnerable groups, and interventions to be offered by the pharmacy. Chronic low-level exposure can occur in communities around the phosphogypsum stacks, phosphogypsum processing plants, tailings, and phosphate mines via inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact, and the food chain. Respiratory disease, renal toxicity, skeletal effects, neurodevelopmental issues, cardiovascular risk, inflammation, oxidative stress, and potential long-term carcinogenic effects are the major health concerns. The young, pregnant women, the elderly, smokers, and those with chronic conditions are especially susceptible. Community pharmacists have the opportunity to assist with risk reduction in the following ways: health education, symptom screening, respiratory care, medication review, antimicrobial stewardship, referral, documentation, follow-up and linkage with primary care and public health services. To enhance surveillance, early detection and protection of communities around mines, the collaboration between pharmacies, primary care, public health authorities and environmental agencies needs to be integrated.

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