TRACE-ELEMENTS IN KIDNEY STONES FROM 3 AREAS IN UNITED-STATES

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (4) , 270-274
Abstract
A large number of trace elements was found in Ca stones (whewellite, weddellite and apatite) and in struvite. Significantly fewer elements, with lower abundances, are found in uric acid and cystine. With the exception of 4 trace elements (Pb, Si, Sr and Zn), the trace element assemblages are identical in the oxalates (whewellite and weddellite); struvite is also similar, but with notable exceptions. Apatite contains approximately twice the level of trace element abundances as do the oxalates. The distribution of 20 elements in 186 mineralogically identified urinary calculi from 3 generalized areas of the USA (northeast, southeast and midwest) was studied. There is no statistical difference in the trace element assemblages of mineralogically identical stones frcm the 3 areas.