The aim of this research was to show, that sorption and desorption processes of organic hydrophobic compounds on humic acid fraction can influence the microbial degradation rates of contaminants. This study was carried out in the Netherlands in 1996. Chlorinated benzene (pentachlorobenzene QCB) and a polychlorinated biphenyl (2.5-dichlorobiphenyl) were used as a model compounds.