Mining Metals And Medicinal Interventions: Pharmacological Care For Heavy Metal Toxicity In Mining Communities

Mining communities, Metal toxicity, Occupational health, Public health, Biomonitoring, Community-based interventions.

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

2ANSHOO AGARWAL,
Department of Pathology, Faculty of
Medicine, Northern Border University,
Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(Email id: dranshoo3@gmail.com;
ORCID:0000-0002-8675-3083)

3AMIRTHALINGAM SASIKALA DEVI,
Family Medicine Department, School of
Medicine, IMU University, Clinical
Campus, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan,
Malaysia.
(E-mail:SasikalaDevi@imu.edu.my;
ORCID: 0000-0002-9004-5573)

4ANIL MOHAN RAO. S.,
Department of Pathology, Faculty Of
Medicine, Northern Border University,
Arar, Saudi Arabia.
(E-mail: Anilmohanrao_saini @yahoo.com;
ORCID: 0009-0009-8165-9520)

5SYED RAZIUDDIN QUADRI,
Department of Medical Laboratory
Technology, College of Applied Medical
Sciences, Northern Border University, Arar
91431, Saudi Arabia.
(E-mail: syed.quadri@nbu.edu.sa;
ORCID:0000-0002-2167-0316)

6MOHAMMAD TAUSEEF,
Foundational Sciences Discipline,
Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine,
Central Michigan University, Mount
Pleasant, MI 48859, United States.
(E-mail: tause1m@cmich.edu;
ORCID: 0009-0003-3053-7634)

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

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

European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry (2026) 34 (7s), 92-103

Mining Metals And Medicinal Interventions: Pharmacological Care For Heavy Metal Toxicity In Mining Communities

Mining plays a major role in the global economy. However, it can also expose workers and local communities to harmful heavy metals, such as cadmium, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and lead. These metals can bioaccumulate in soil, water, and living organisms and have been linked to neurotoxicity, renal dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and increased carcinogenic risk. Children, pregnant women, and informal miners are among the most vulnerable groups, as they may be exposed to mercury and other toxic metals through dust inhalation, contaminated water and food, or direct occupational contact. Pharmacological treatments, such as metalspecific chelation therapy and antioxidant supplementation, are useful for clinically significant toxicity, but they should not replace environmental and occupational control measures. In resource-limited mining regions, pharmacists play an important role in early identification, risk assessment, medication management, patient counseling, and community-level interventions. This review summarizes the existing literature on the sources, mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and management of heavy metal toxicity, with emphasis on the pharmacist’s role in reducing health risks and supporting public and occupational health programs in mining communities.

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