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Trace elements in urinary stones: a preliminary investigation in Fars province, Iran

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Abstract

In view of the high incidence rate of urinary stones in the south and southwest of Iran, this paper investigates trace elements content including heavy metals in 39 urinary stones, collected from patients in Fars province, Iran. The mineralogy of the stones is investigated using X-ray diffractometry. The samples are classified into five mineral groups (calcium oxalate, uric acid, cystine, calcium phosphate and mixed stone). Major and trace elements in each group were determined using ICP-MS method. P and Ca constitute the main elements in urinary stones with Ca being more affine to oxalates while other alkali and alkaline earths precipitate with phosphate. Significant amounts of trace elements, especially Zn and Sr, were found in urinary calculi (calcium oxalate and phosphates) relative to biominerals (uric acid and cystine). Among urinary calculi, calcium phosphate contains greater amounts of trace metal than calcium oxalate. Phosphates seem to be the most important metal-bearing phases in urinary stones. Results indicate that concentrations of elements in urinary stones depend on the type of mineral phases. Significant differences in elements content across various mineralogical groups were found by applying statistical methods. Kruskal–Wallis test reveals significant difference between Ca, P, K, Na, Mg, S, Zn, Sr, Se, Cd, and Co content in different investigated mineral groups. Moreover, Mann–Whitney test differentiates Ca, Na, Zn, Sr, Co, and Ni between minerals in oxalate and uric acid stones. This study shows that urinary stone can provide complementary information on human exposure to elements and estimate the environmental risks involved in urinary stones formation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by “Shiraz University Medical Geology Research” to whom the authors are indebted. The authors would also like to express their gratitude to Zarazma Mineral Studies Company for their sample analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, 71454, Shiraz, Iran

    Behnam Keshavarzi, Nasrin Yavarashayeri & Farid Moore

  2. Department of Urology and Endourology, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran

    Dariush Irani

  3. Department of Geology, Shahid Chamran University (SCU), Ahvaz, Iran

    Alireza Zarasvandi

  4. Department of Anesthesia, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Mehrdad Salari

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  1. Behnam Keshavarzi
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  2. Nasrin Yavarashayeri
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Correspondence to Behnam Keshavarzi.

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Keshavarzi, B., Yavarashayeri, N., Irani, D. et al. Trace elements in urinary stones: a preliminary investigation in Fars province, Iran. Environ Geochem Health 37, 377–389 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-014-9654-z

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