During the EU funded project European Mercury Emissions from Chlor Alkali Plants (EMECAP) we evaluated the exposure to mercury in subjects living close to the mercury cell chlor-alkali (MCCA) plant and in occupationally exposed MCCA workers, compared to controls from the reference areas. Beside urinary mercury as a biomarker of exposure also biomarkers of effect were assessed: albumin, alpha-1-microglobuline (A1M) and N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) in urine as indicators of kidney function damage and 8- hydroxydeoxyguanine (8-OH-dG) in urine as an indicator of DNA damage. In addition selenium in urine was analysed because of its known antioxidant protective role.