This review is concentrated on primary inorganic pollutants of concern which result in the aqueous discharges of high-pressure coal-gasification technologies. These pollutants include ammonia, cyanide (thiocyanates), sulfide, and boron. Ammonia toxicity was not reviewed since effective waste treatment technologies and discharge guidelines are available. The open literature concerning the effects of cyanide (thiocyanates), boron, and sulfide on aquatic life was reviewed using computer search techniques. It was concluded that there is a void in the literature concerning the toxicity of these parameters in high-pressure, coal-gasification wastewater matrices. The information abstracted is mainly concerned with laboratory studies with individual constituents; however, some data provide insight to the effects of physical parameters such as temperature and physical stress. (ERA citation 08:057714)