Abstract:China has abundant reserves of coal resources, and is also the largest producer and consumer of coal resources in the world. More and more attention has been paid to the radioactive environmental problems in the process of coal resource development and utilization. This paper reviews the research progress on the modes of occurrence of uranium in coal, the release and mobility of uranium in different development and utilization stages of coal resources, and the radioactive pollution generated, and summarizes the radiation risk assessment methods in the process of coal development and utilization. Finally, the future research work is prospected. Most of the radioactive substances produced by coal have little impact on human health. Special attention should be paid to uranium-rich coal, especially the widely distributed stone coal in southern of China. The radioactive pollution and potential health risks caused by its development and utilization cannot be ignored.