In isopods from contaminated sites relatively low levels of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been observed, which may be caused by either a low bioavailability or a high elimination rate. To shed light on this, the uptake and elimination rates of benzo[a]pyrene were estimated for the isopod Porcellio scaber. The isopod was fed contaminated food (100 microg benzo[a]pyrene/g dwt) for seven weeks followed by four weeks of untreated food. The hindguts of the animals were removed prior to analysis to exclude food material from the body. Benzo[a]pyrene concentrations were log-normally distributed among the individuals. The high inter-individual variation in benzo[a]pyrene content could not be explained from differences in sex, the estimated amount of food in the hindgut, or the body weight. A one-compartment model fitted to the isopod concentrations estimated an assimilation rate of 2.9 microg benzo[a]pyrene/g dwt day, an elimination rate constant of 1.1/day and an equilibrium concentration of 2.5 microg benzo[a]pyrene/g dwt. According to the model 68% of the isopod population had an equilibrium concentration between 1.0 and 7.2 microg benzo[a]pyrene/g dwt day with a benzo[a]pyrene half-life ranging between 0.4 and 1.3 days. The assimilation efficiency was estimated at 20 to 40% of the ingested benzo[a]pyrene. The tissue distribution of benzo[a]pyrene was investigated in a separate experiment. Trace levels of benzo[a]pyrene were detected in haemolymph samples, demonstrating absorption and transport of the compound in the isopod. It is concluded that dietary benzo[a]pyrene is available for uptake to the isopod and that low residues of the compound observed in field isopods are the result of a high elimination rate rather than a reduced bioavailability. As PAHs from soil appear to be available to soil invertebrates, the widespread contamination of the soil from atmospheric emissions is of some concern, especially since the observed elimination may be linked to metabolic activation of PAHs.