In order to explore the mechanism of acute toxicity for pyrene to cyanobacterial organisms, the responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 photosystem II (PS II) under pyrene stress were studied. The results showed there was no significant difference about the oxygen evolution under 0.125 mg/L pyrene stress when compared with control, but it was significantly lower than control at 0.625 mg/L pyrene. Polyphasic chlorophyll-a fluorescence transients in cells of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 exhibited a typical increase including O, J, I, and P phases. Fluorescence yield at phases J, I and P declined s...