The characteristics of cometabolic removal of xylenes by Alcaligenes xylosoxidans Y234 were investigated. m-Xylene was found to be degraded while ο- and p-xylene were biotransformed into cresols in the presence of benzene or toluene. A lower level of benzene was required than that of toluene to remove the same amount of xylenes, which suggested benzene was a more effective primary substrate than toluene. ο-Xylene was found to be the most toxic to Alcaligenes xylosoxidans Y234 followed by p-xylene and m-xylene. Rates of cell decay during cometabolic removal of ο-, m-, or p-xylene were decreased by up to $76\%$ when benzene-adapted cells were inoculated. Xylenes were removed efficiently using benzene-adapted cells.