Environmental impact of phosphate mining and
Phosphorus is normally produced by mining and beneficiation of Phosphate ores. 3 Mines produce large amounts of waste including toxic metals and radioactive elements. 4 The mining and beneficiation process results in the majority of these hazardous elements being lost either to waste disposal or to the environment, mainly soil, water, atmosphere and human food chain. 5,6 Apatite is the dominant