Several strains from tributyl phosphate (TBP)-polluted soils were isolated and screened for their ability to degraded this widely used organophosphorus compound. The most active strain, identified as Serratia odorifera, degrades up to 600 muM TBP (initially present in the medium at 2 mM) during its growth phase, within 8 h from inoculation. However, this bacterium could not utilize TBP as the sole carbon and/or phosphorus source but nevertheless is a good candidate for bioremediation of TBP-polluted industrial sites.