Releases of nitrobenzene into the aquatic environment pose a threat to human health and aquatic resources, and have attracted much attention world-wide. In order to find out the distribution and migration patterns of pooled nitrobenzene underwater in different conditions, laboratory column experiments were designed to simulate stagnant water, flowing water and rainfall disturbance events. The results showed that in stagnant water there was a slow diffusion of the nitrobenzene from the pool leading to higher concentrations of the chemical deeper in the water column. In flowing water, the removal of the substance was rapid and water concentrations were much lower and more uniform throughout the column. The disturbance event brought a substantial quantity of nitrobenzene into the water column which then dissipated according to the flow regime. Analysis of the data showed that distribution pattern of nitrobenzene in the stagnant water column followed a logarithmic equation C-NB = a In(t) + b, and in disturbed flowing water, the distribution pattern of nitrobenzene followed a negative exponential regression equation C-NB = Ne-Mt. These conclusions have practical significance in developing remediation technologies for water polluted by nitrobenzene. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.