As　one　of　the　most　commonly　used　nanoparticles,　nano　zero　valent　iron　(nZVI)　had　been　extensively　studied　in　the　removal　of　pollutants　from　environmental　water.　This　review　systematically　and　comprehensively　summarized　the　related　progress　of　nZVI,　introduced　various　aspects　of　nZVI　and　then　guided　its　development　direction.　Among　them,　the　research　contents　mainly　included　preparation　method,　modification　method,　mechanism　of　action　and　catalytic　mechanism　for　removing　different　pollutants　in　water,　application　in　site　research,　and　mechanism　of　toxicity.　In　this　paper,　it　was　found　that　there　were　still　problems　such　as　lack　of　comprehensive　evaluation　methods,　limited　application,　and　asynchronous　research　on　nano　zero　valent　iron.　The　future　development　of　nZVI　should　have　evaluation　methods　that　consider　reactivity,　stability,　mobility,　and　toxicity,　to　avoid　the　time　difference　of　the　same　modified　material　in　different　research　directions,　so　that　the　application　of　nZVI　can　be　better　applied　to　field　research,　and　promote　the　application　of　nZVI　in　the　field.　©　2022　Chinese　Society　for　Environmental　Sciences.　All　rights　reserved.