Abstract: The source of pollution emission inventory preparation is a complicated system, which is an important way to describe the temporal and spatial distribution of atmospheric pollutants, and formulate pollution emission regulations and control measures of theoretical basis. Based on the related literature at home and abroad, and natural sources, man-made sources, the spatial and temporal distribution, the construction of chemical species spectrum, the uncertainty analysis and validation of pollution emission list, the research progress were reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of processing model were analyzed and evaluated. According to the reality of our country, the future development direction of discharge listing prospect was put forward.