The paper deals with the evaluation of exposure to chemical carcinogens in particular professions in coke plants at the territory of the Ostrava city and sorting working activities to categories on the basis of the evaluation of exposure. It also describes the occurrence of occupational diseases in coke plants in last 10 years (since 1995) both from the perspective of an organ involvement during exposure to chemical carcinogens and the length of exposure and undertaken profession. The paper should point to the fact that the risk of developing cancer in coke plants really exists (14 occupational tumour diseases were acknowledged in last 10 years) and therefore the work hygienist should pay increased attention to exposure of the staff in coke plants to genotoxic compounds and especially focuse on technical and organizational measures to decrease the exposure.

        Key words: genotoxic compounds, benzene, benzopyrene, carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons, coke plant, exposure to chemical compounds, occupational diseases