Green Mining, Medicine, And Sustainability: Community Pharmacists As Frontline Partners In Public Health Protection

Community pharmacy, Green mining, Mining pollution, Environmental health, Occupational health, Sustainable healthcare

1ABIDA KHAN,
Center for Health Research, Northern Border
University, Arar 73213, Saudi Arabia.
(E-mail: aqua_abkhan@yahoo.com; ORCID:
0000-0001-6186-461X)

2RUMAISA HAYAT,
Department of Environmental Science,
Integral University, Lucknow 226026, India.
(E-mail: r.hyat2020@gmail.com; ORCID:
0009-0008-7982-3531)

3BANDAR THEYAB ALENEZI,
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of
Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar,
Saudi Arabia.
(E-mail:Bandar.alenezi@nbu.edu.sa;
ORCID: 0009-0006-2758-5581)

4NADEEM AHMAD SIDDIQUE,
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry,
University of Hafr Al Batin, Hafar Al Batin,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(E-mail: nasiddique@uhb.edu.sa; ORCID:
0000-0002-1584-4877)

5SALMA YOUSIF SIDAHMED ELSHEIKH,
Department of Biological Sciences, College
of Science, Northern Border University, Arar
73251, Saudi Arabia.
(E-mail: Salma.Ahmed@nbu.edu.sa; ORCID:
0000-0003-2528-8090)

6*MOHD IMRAN,
Center for Health Research, Northern Border
University, Arar 73213, Saudi Arabia. (Email: imran.pchem@gmail.com; ORCID:
0000-0002-6064-1040)

Received:14-05-2026
Revised:19-06-2026
Accepted:25-06-2026

European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry (2026) 34(7s), 72–81

Green Mining, Medicine, And Sustainability: Community Pharmacists As Frontline Partners In Public Health Protection

Mining is a necessary component of economic development, providing access to minerals that are needed for infrastructure, energy production, health-care technologies, transportation, and modern industries. But when mining occurs, it can release silica dust, contaminated water, toxic metals, acid mine drainage, and particulate matter, affecting both mining personnel and the surrounding community. The goal of green mining is to mitigate these impacts by implementing cleaner technologies, improving resource efficiency, minimizing waste, conducting environmental monitoring, and rehabilitating the mine site; however, public health support is also required. This narrative review examines the health threats associated with mining, the definition and merits of green mining, and the role of community pharmacists in protecting public health and promoting environmental sustainability in mining-affected communities. The literature was searched on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases using selected keywords. Selected fundamental studies were included, and publications between 2015 and 2026 were prioritized. The evidence reviewed suggests that the community pharmacist can contribute to the process of green mining by carrying out health education, training awareness of exposure risk, early identification and referral of mining-related diseases, support for chronic diseases, medication therapy management, medication surveillance, occupational health counseling, telepharmacy, environmental health surveillance, and managing pharmaceutical waste, especially in remote and resourceconstrained areas. Community pharmacists are available and untapped public health partners in mine-affected communities. They could enhance disease prevention and surveillance, environmental stewardship, community resilience, and sustainable healthcare delivery by being incorporated into multidisciplinary green mining programs.

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