Abstract: The progress and status of research on persistent organochlorines (POs) in cetaceans since 1970s were reviewed in this paper. The review focused on the following five aspects: the analysis methods for residue levels of POs in cetaceans, the ways of POs getting into and eliminating from cetacean body, the residue levels of POs in cetaceans, the harmful effect of POs on cetaceans, and assessment of the pollution levels of POs in cetaceans. The authors point out that the effects of POs on marine ecosystem will continue for a long time, and the long-term effect of POs on marine mammals in the coastal waters should be further studied.