Abstract:Persistent toxic substances (PTS), which have carcinogensis, teratogensis and mutagensis and ecotoxicity, can cause heavy damages to coastal ecological environments and systems. PTS are mainly transported into coast and adjacent sea by riverine input and/or industrial wastewaters discharge. Most of PTS, especial for particle-activie components, are deposition in coastal sedimentary environment. The distribution and accumulation of PTS in coastal surface sediments are determined not only by the properties of PTS and surface sediment but by sedimentary environments such as river runoffs, fluvial sediment discharge, alternation between erosion and deposition in estuary areas. Based on the collected data, the heavy metal contamination levels in coastal sediments of China are generally low, exception of contents of Cu and As in Jiaozhou Bay and Cd and Zn in Pearl River Estuary. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are mostly concentrated in highly urbanized and industrialized offshore zones, such as the Pearl River Delta, the Changjiang estuary and Minjiang River estuary. Polychlorinated biphenyls（PCBs） pollution is more heavier in the Pearl River Delta than in other areas. Much heavy pollution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was observed in estuarine and coastal zones in southeastern China. Based on the various behaviors of PTS in different coastal environments several research issues，such as quantitative research on transport and transformation of pollutants, chemical speciation analysis of heavy metals, microbial action, and the interaction among various pollutants, are eludiated.