Heavy metals in human urinary calculi

Summary Heavy metals are incorporated in human urinary calculi during a complex pathological process. The trace metals cadmium, lead, chromium, nickel and mercury are determined with regard to significance in pathogenesis and therapy. The amounts of cadmium, lead and chromium were determined as well directly in the solid sample as after chemical digestion by Zeeman-GFAAS. Both analyzing techniques show corresponding results. Nickel could be determined after chemical digestion only, while mercury was determined by a solid sampling technique. The evaluation of the results of trace metal analysis in the pilot study of 11 urinary calculi showed increased amounts of lead and cadmium compared to the results of tartar and salivary calculi.