Time History of Human Gallstones: Application of the Post-Bomb Radiocarbon Signal
Open Access
- 1 January 1983
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Radiocarbon
- Vol. 25 (2) , 629-636
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033822200005944
Abstract
Bomb-produced14C is a valuable tool for studying rates of short-term processes involving carbon cycling. This study shows that bomb14C is an excellent tracer of a biochemical process that takes place in the human body, namely the accretion of stones in the gallbladder. The methods developed for obtaining time histories of14C/12C and13C/12C in concentric layers from a large gallstone (30mm diameter) are reported. Formation times are assigned by matching the14C/12C obtained from individual layers with those found for known-aged tree rings. Results show that the gallstone grew over a period of 10 years and seems to have lain dormant within the gallbladder for a period of 11 years. The average growth rate was 1.5mm/year.Keywords
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