General Information: Naphthalene-degrading bacterium. Polaromonas naphthalenivorans was isolated from naphthalene-contaminated, freshwater sediment. This organism is capable of aerobic degradation of naphthalene at temperatures of less than 20 degrees C. Naphthalene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). PAHs can be toxic and/or carcinogenic, therefore PAH contamination is of considerable concern.