Under methanogenic conditions, stream-bed sediment microorganisms rapidly degraded [1,2-(14)C]vinyl chloride to (14)CH(4) and (14)CO(2). Amendment with 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid eliminated (14)CH(4) production and decreased (14)CO(2) recovery by an equal molar amount. Results obtained with [(14)C]-ethene, [(14)C]acetate, or (14)CO(2) as substrates indicated that acetotrophic methanogens were responsible for the production of (14)CH(4) during biodegradation of [1,2-(14)C]VC.