[Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in workers exposed to the effects of mercury]. / Aktivnost urinarne N-acetil-beta-D-glukozaminidaze u radnika izlozenih djelovanju zive.

Mercury concentration in urine and urinary activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase were determined in a group of 100 workers from an electrolysis workshop. The enzyme activities measured were twice as high as those of 100 control subjects. The difference was statistically significant. There was no correlation between urinary activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and mercury concentration in urine. The applicability of this biochemical-toxicological test in occupational health practice is discussed.

[Urinary cotinine as a marker for passive tobacco smoking]. / Urinarni kotinin kao marker pasivnog pusenja duvana.

To provide an objective measure of the hazard smoking parents represent to their children's health, continue concentration in urine was measured by the colorimetric method using barbituric acid (DBA). A total of 205 children, aged 10-12, were examined. The results of laboratory tests were correlated with the data collected by interview. A significant difference in the average value of cotinine concentration was demonstrated between the children whose parents did not smoke (3.2 mumol/L) and those whose one parent smoked (5.8 mumol/L). An even larger concentration was recorded when both parents smoked (7.8 mumol/L). The largest cotinine concentration was determined in the urine of children--passive smokers whose both parents smoked and who did not have a room of their own (9.2 mumol/L). The difference in cotinine concentration between girls and boys was not statistically significant.