We have analyzed
gallstones from four patients of Europe and particularly from England (including samples from a mother and a daughter) and Greece. According to the XRD, FTIR, NMR and
laser micro-Raman results the studied materials correspond to typical
cholesterol monohydrate (ChM). The micro-morphology of
cholesterol microcrystals was investigated by means of SEM-EDS. The XRF results revealed that Ca is the dominant non-organic
metal in all
gallstones (up to ∼1.95wt.%) together with Fe, Cu, Pb and Ni (up to ~19ppm for each
metal).
Gallstones from England contain additional Mn (up to ~87ppm) and Zn (up to ∼6ppm) while the sample of the mother contains negligible Zn and Mn, compared to that of her daughter, but significant As (~4.5ppm). All
cholesterol gallstones examined are well enriched in potentially toxic metals (Pb, as well as Ni in one case) and
metalloids (As also in one case) as compared to the global average. The position of Zn, which is a characteristic
biometal, in the structure of
cholesterol, was investigated by molecular simulation using the Accelrys Materials Studio(®) software. On the basis of IRMS results, all
gallstones examined exhibit a very light δ(13)C signature (average δ(13)C ~-24‰ PDB). Gamma-ray spectrometry measurements indicate the presence of (214)Pb and (214)Bi natural
radionuclides due to the (238)U series as well as an additional amount of (40)K.