The taxonomic position of an actinomycete isolated from a lead-polluted soil in Gansu province, north-west China, was determined by using a polyphasic approach. Chemical and morphological properties of the isolate, designated strain CCNWHX 13-160(T), were similar to those of streptomycetes. Analysis of the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain CCNWHX 13-160(T) in the genus Streptomyces where it formed a distinct phyletic line with recognized Streptomyces species. The strain was most similar to Streptomyces pseudovenezuelae NBRC 12904(T) (98.9 %) and Streptomyces resistomycificus NBRC 12814(T) (98.8 %). Furthermore, DNA-DNA hybridization studies between the novel isolate and these two strains showed relatedness values of 49.7+/-0.8 and 43.2+/-1.1 %, respectively. It is proposed that strain CCNWHX 13-160(T) (=ACCC 41207(T)=HAMBI 2991(T)) be classified as the type strain of a novel species in the genus Streptomyces, Streptomyces plumbiresistens sp. nov. The MIC of Pb(2+) for growth of strain CCNWHX 13-160(T) was 4.0 mM.