Genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome p450 (CYP1A1) and glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) genes are thought to have significant effects on the metabolism of environmental carcinogens and thus on cancer risk, but the reported results are not always consistent. In this meta-analysis, we assessed reported studies of associations between polymorphisms of these two genes and risk of lung cancer in Chinese populations. Through a systematic literature search for publications between 1989 and 2006, we summarized the data from 46 studies on polymorphisms of MspI and exon7-Val of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 and lung cancer risk in Chinese populations, and found that compared with the wild-type homozygous genotype (type A), lung cancer risk for the combined variant genotypes (types B and C) was 1.34-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.08-1.67) (Z=2.64, P=0.008); the risk for the combined variant genotypes (Ile/Val and Val/Val) of CYP1A1 exon7 was 1.61-fold (95% CI=1.24-2.08) (Z=3.62, P<0.001), compared with the Ile/Ile genotype; and that the risk for the GSTM1 null genotype was 1.54-fold (95% CI=1.31-1.80) (Z=5.32, P<0.001), compared with the GSTM1 present genotype. Therefore, in 46 published studies in Chinese populations, we found evidence of an association between the CYP1A1 variant and GSTM1 null genotypes and increased risk of lung cancer.