The effect of intratracheal administration of coal fly ash, its benzene-soluble and benzene-insoluble fractions has been studied on the levels of hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5, and the activities of sigma-aminolevulinic acid synthetase and heme oxygenase. Fly ash and both its fractions significantly increased the levels of hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P-450. Benzene-soluble and benzene-insoluble fractions of coal fly ash significantly increased the levels of cytochrome b5 also in both lung and liver. Fly ash and both its fractions increased the activity of sigma-aminolevulinic acid synthetase and reduced the activity of heme oxygenase in lung and liver. Glass bead particles of similar size did not show any effect on hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5.