Strains of lactic acid bacteria were selected from Korean feces and their binding to heavy metals (Pb^2+, Hg^2+ and Cd^2+) were examined. Binding capacities were different among 6 strains tested, while each strain showed similar affinities to three kinds of heavy metals. Lower the pH of reaction mixture within range of 2∼7, lower the amounts of heavy metals bound to cells. One strain, JM2-6, absorbed 1.64㎍ of Pb per ㎍ of dried cells. However, metal binding was lower in aerobically cultured cells than in anaerobically cultured cells and inhibited by addition of metals salts to reaction mixture.