Atmospheric benzene depletion by soil microorganisms.

Gaseous benzene was rapidly depleted in exposure chambers containing viable soils and plants. When separate components of the system were analyzed, no benzene was detected in soils, plants, or water. Soil microorganisms were shown to be responsible for metabolizing benzene, yielding CO2 as the main product. The rates were sufficiently rapid to suggest that this reaction forms a major pathway for the elimination of benzene from the environment.