A styrene-degrading bacterium isolated form soil showed the capability to respire styrene, styrene oxide, phenyl acetaldehyde, phenyl acetate, phenol, catechol, succinate, pyruvate, acetate and acetaldehyde. Succinate-grown cells respire styrene. The strain was used to inoculate a biofilter with lava stones as carrier material. After a short adaptation period the biofilter was able to remove over 98% of the incoming styrene (1 mmol.m(-3)) at a space velocity of 160 h(-1).