Abstract
The effects of two specific inhibitors of sulphate‐reducing bacteria, selenate and molybdate, have been studied by measurement of sulphate uptake and by measurement of the effects of these compounds on growth of the bacteria on a variety of media. The results obtained with selenate are consistent with the view that it acts as a competitive inhibitor of sulphate transport. The results obtained with molybdate show that there is more than one site of action and suggest that the primary effect is also on sulphate transport.