This report is a literature review outlining the current state of knowledge on the origin, fate and dispersion of toxicants within the Yarra Estuary. In terms of this review toxicants have been defined in accordance with ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) as:‘Chemicals capable of producing an adverse response (effect) in a biological system at concentrations that might be encountered in the environment, seriously injuring structure or function or producing death.’