This paper reviewed the toxicity assement methods of industrial wastewater, such as chemical assement method and biological toxicity assement method. Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) and the technologies of pollutant extraction, seperation, toxicity test and toxicant identification of effectdirected analysis (EDA) were also introduced. It points out that the toxicity assement method of industrial wastewater showes a gradual shift to the key toxicant identification with the combination of chemical analysis and biological toxicity test. Convenience and high throughput are the development direction of toxicant identification technology. The development of massspectrometric technique and the other substitutes of qualitative technique will provide more accurate and more convenient toxicant identification method, which will support the control of the potential risk of industrial wastewater.