title: Trace element investigations in urinary stones: a preliminary pilot case in Basilicata (Southern Italy).
abstract: The role of trace elements in the lithogenesis of urinary stones is still debated. However, it is generally appreciated that urinary stones are one of the most common health problems in the world and are strongly associated with environmental factors. It is important to highlight that urinary stones containing trace elements could be considered a marker of environmental pollution. A large set of urinary stones (48), collected among the Basilicata (southern Italy) inhabitants, was analysed by AAS and ICP for the content of specific chemical elements that were either involved in the crystallisation process of kidney stones (Ca, Mg, K, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn) or which were potentially toxic (Pb, Cr). Three main findings emerge from the results: Furthermore, the results showed that the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cr were greater than that of ingested from a standard diet. Consequently, varying amounts of these elements may have been attributed to their enrichment in the diet of the inhabitants of polluted areas.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental and Medical Geology, IMAA-CNR, Tito Scalo (PZ), Italy. marialuigia.giannossi@imaa.cnr.it
authors.forename: Maria Luigia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Giannossi
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Summa
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mongelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014131:Trace Elements