Environmental Geochemistry and Health

, Volume 37, Issue 2, pp 377–389 | Cite as

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

  • Behnam Keshavarzi
  • Nasrin Yavarashayeri
  • Dariush Irani
  • Farid Moore
  • Alireza Zarasvandi
  • Mehrdad Salari
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

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.

Keywords

Urinary stone Trace element Mineralogy Fars Iran 
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Notes

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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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Behnam Keshavarzi
    • 1
  • Nasrin Yavarashayeri
    • 1
  • Dariush Irani
    • 2
  • Farid Moore
    • 1
  • Alireza Zarasvandi
    • 3
  • Mehrdad Salari
    • 4
  1. 1.Department of Earth Sciences, College of SciencesShiraz UniversityShirazIran
  2. 2.Department of Urology and EndourologyShiraz University of Medical ScienceShirazIran
  3. 3.Department of GeologyShahid Chamran University (SCU)AhvazIran
  4. 4.Department of AnesthesiaShiraz University of Medical SciencesShirazIran

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