1,3-butadiene (BD) is widely used in the production of rubber, thermoplastic resins and nylon. Long-term exposure to BD-contaminated environments can cause eye pain, blurred vision, coughing and drowsiness, and increase the incidence of leukemia. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified BD as a class one human carcinogen. Therefore, elucidating the process and mechanism and microbial transformation of BD may help to properly assess its environmental risk.