title: Metals in Human Gall, Bladder, and Kidney Stones Based on an Electron Microprobe Investigation.
abstract: Several particles of copper accompanied by a few particles of nickel, lead, and a compound composed of selenium containing minor Ni, Si, Cu, and Co were found in human gall, kidney, and bladder stones. The investigated particles occur as tiny grains, <10 µm in size, that are irregularly dispersed in the stones. Therefore, they were studied by scanning electron microscopy and qualitatively analyzed by energy dispersive system. One grain of copper contained a small amount of Ni and Zn, and some grains of nickel proved to contain Cr as trace element. Most of the discovered metals formed a single-phase grain. However, a few grains found in two gallstones were associated with inclusions of calcium and apatite. Based on the results presented in this contribution, we argue that most of the studied metals can be classified as endogenous particles, i.e., directly precipitated from the same fluids that formed their host human stones. This observation suggests that the precipitation and accumulation of metals in some human stones can be considered an efficient way to eliminate them from the human body.
authors.affiliation: 1LKH-Hospital of Leoben,Vordernbergerstraße 42,A 8700,Leoben,Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Applied Geosciences and Geophysics,University of Leoben,Peter Tunner Str. 5,A 8700,Leoben,Austria.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaccarini
authors.affiliation: 3LKH-Hospital of Bruck an der Mur,Tragösserstrasse 1,A 8600,Bruck an der Mur,Austria.
authors.forename: Waltraud
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: 3LKH-Hospital of Bruck an der Mur,Tragösserstrasse 1,A 8600,Bruck an der Mur,Austria.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schrittwieser
authors.affiliation: 1LKH-Hospital of Leoben,Vordernbergerstraße 42,A 8700,Leoben,Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kerbl
mesh_terms: D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D001744:Urinary Bladder Calculi / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals
keywords: bladder stone; electron microprobe; gallstone; kidney stone; metals