A review of the 1981 world literature was conducted on the effects of pollution on freshwater fish. This review contained 376 references and included papers on water quality such as dissolved gases and pH; chemical pollutants such as insecticides, herbicides, piscicides and anesthetics; inorganics, organics and industrial and municipal effluents including chlorine and wastewater and pulp and paper. Papers from reviews and symposia and those dealing with physical factors were also included. Within the above sections, papers were organized into general articles, surveys, toxicology, bioaccumulation, physiology and behavior.