Phosphorus (P) is essential to all known life forms because it is a key element in many physiological and biochemical processes. A component of every living cell in all living organisms, phosphorus is indispensable and essential to life.
It is one of the basic elements for nutrition of human beings, plants and animals; no other element can take the place of phosphorus for living processes.

Phosphorus is a vital component of the DNA molecules that are the building blocks of genes and chromosomes. Human diet, to be well balanced, should comprise 800 mg/day. In addition to bone formation and structure, phosphorus is involved in many physiological functions including energy metabolisms ; activation of reactions of the metabolism of carbohydrate, lipids and proteins ; cell membrane structure and function ; and inter-cellular and extra-cellular buffer.

Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the human body, surpassed only by calcium. It makes up more than 20 percent of the mineral ash in the body, about one percent of total body weight. Nearly 80 percent of the P in humans is found in bones and teeth. The remainder is widely distributed… in combination with proteins, fats and salts. Mineral supplements containing P may be prescribed by doctors when a P deficiency is diagnosed. Strong teeth and bones depend on an adequate supply of P.

Most soils are inherently phosphorus deficient. Plants do not grow well if there is insufficient readily available phosphorus in soil, and other nutrients, especially nitrogen, will be used inefficiently if there is too little phosphorus in the crop-soil system.

The large amount and high quality of food obtained worldwide today are largely due to the use of phosphate fertilizers, phosphorus-based herbicides, insecticides, and plant hormones, not to speak of the use of phosphorus in animal feeds.

Besides, it is difficult nowadays to go through everyday life without coming into contact with objects in which phosphorus compounds are either an ingredient or in which a phosphorus compound is used in its processing. They are important ingredients in high-grade detergents, cleaning agents, dental creams toothpastes, flame retardants, flame retarded clothing, stabilizer of plastics, corrosion inhibitors, dispersion agents in paints and primers and metal surface treatments. They are also excipients in the pharmaceutical industry and are widely used in the food industry, in canned food and in freezing, thawing, and cooking processes.