The extensive use of aromatic hydrocarbons in industrial
processes, coupled with inadequate waste management
strategies, has led to the widespread introduction of these
compounds into our environment [1]. Styrene, the simplest
of the alkenylbenzenes, is one such compound which is
employed both as a starting material for synthetic polymers
and as a solvent in the polymer-processing industry,
leading to its release in a variety of industrial e¥uents.
Styrene is known to be genotoxic while styrene oxide,
the major in vivo metabolite of styrene, is classi¢ed as a
probable carcinogen in humans [2]. Recent reports indicate
that styrene may also have an immuno-modulatory
e¡ect on workers exposed to gaseous emissions in an industrial
setting [3]. As a result of concerns arising from
these ¢ndings, the last decade has seen intense investigation
into various aspects of the microbial degradation of
this compound.