To explore the adverse effects of coking oven emissions (COE) on the serum oxidation-reduction and relevant genes in the exposed workers.Fifty-six coke oven workers and forty controls were investigated. Serum Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the activities of total superoxide dismutases (T-SOD) were measured by spectrophotometrical method. Immunohistochemical method was used to assess the P21 and P53 levels in peripheral white blood cells.Compared with controls, the individuals exposed to COE had significantly increased levels of serum MDA [(5.30 +/- 2.29) nmol/mL, P < 0.01] and markedly decreased levels of T-SOD [(100.04 +/- 10.75) NU/mL]. Additionally, the median levels of P53 and P21 were markedly increased in the exposed individuals compared with the controls (21.4% and 23.2%, respectively, all P < 0.05).The findings indicate that occupational exposure to COE causes the rise of serum oxidation-reduction MDA and the fall of T-SOD, and increasing expression levels of P21 and P53 proteins before the occurrence of apparent clinical symptoms.