Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate heat shock protein 72(HSP72)levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes of coke oven workers and influence factors.MethodTwo hundred sixty-seven coke oven workers and thirty controls without occupational PAHs exposure were investigated.Benzo(a)pyreneB(a)pconcentrations in the ambient air were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPL C).HSP72 levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured by Westem Blot.Personal information was collected by questionnaire.ResultsHSP72 levels in oven-top,oven-side workers(1.20±0.47,1.30±0.37)were significantly higher than that in control(0.85±0.34,P<0.05),and HSP72 levels in oven-side workers were significantly higher than those in oven-bottom workers(1.01±0.35,P<0.05).B(a)p concentrations and HSP72 levels in different exposed groups showed binomial distribution(R²=0.9999).The logistic regression analysis showed that the coke oven workers had significantly higher risk in HSP72 rising(adjust OR=1.31)than control,and the adjust OR of oven-top,oven-side workers were respectively 1.49 and 2.69.Multiple linear regression result presented that in the lower exposure group(oven-bottom workers and control),smoking and drinking were inhibiting factors to HSP72 expression(the regression coefficient were respectively -0.0001 and -0.05,P<0.05).ConclusionThe coke oven emissions can induce the rising of HSP72 expression.But the high dose coke oven emissions showed inhibition to HSP72.Smoking and drinking played an inhibitional role in HSP72 expression in lower exposure group.