Phenol degradation efficiency or Pscndontonas putida PCM2 l 53 free cel ls was experimentally studied. Bacterial cells were acclimatized to phenol what relied on gradually increasing the phenol concentration in the medium. The highest phenol degradation rate was calculated as approximately 15.2 mgdmŁh'. Investigated strain degraded the phenol at the concentration or 400 111g-d111·-' in 24 h. The result or toxicity analysis showed that acclimatized cells orP putida PCM2 l 53 arc able to survive even al as high concentration or phenol as 3000 rng.dm'. The obtained result suggests that the analyzed strain can be used lor cflcciivc treating of high strength phenolic wastewater. Due to resistance of the strain to high phenol concentration it may be applied in biorcmcdiation of exceedingly contaminated sites, especially where dilution or pollutants cannot be implemented.