Dihalomethanes are metabolized to carbon monoxide both in vivo and in vitro. The reaction is catalyzed by a hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 dependent mixed function oxidase system. Bioorganic mechanism studies suggest an initial oxygen insertion reaction followed by rearrangement to a formyl halide intermediate which in turn decomposes to yield carbon monoxide. In vitro studies show that 14C-dichloromethane becomes covalently bound to both microsomal protein and lipid. The similar characteristics of metabolism to carbon monoxide and covalent binding suggests that a common intermediate, perhaps the formyl halide, may be involved. Dihalomethanes are also metabolized to formaldehyde, formic acid, and inorganic halide. A glutathione transferase, located in hepatic cytosol fractions, appears to be involved. Reaction mechanism studies suggest that a S-hydroxymethyl glutathione intermediate may yield formaldehyde or be diverted via formaldehyde dehydrogenase/S-formyl glutathione hydrolase to yield formic acid. Haloforms are also metabolized in vitro to carbon monoxide by a hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 dependent mixed function oxidase system. This reaction is a markedly stimulated by sulfhydryl compounds.