The white rot fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus, metabolized four soil adsorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: 50% of pyrene (0.1 mg g(-1) dry soil), 68% of anthracene and 63% of phenanthrene were mineralized after 21 d. Biodegradation was increased to 75%, 80% and 75%, respectively of the initial concentration when 0.15% Tween 40 was added. Biodegradation of pyrene in the presence of surfactant and H2O2 (1.0 mM) was 90%. Benz[a]pyrene was also oxidized by Pleurotus ostreatus but it is not mineralized.