Abstract: Recently, a new type of chip technology, microfluidics, has received global attention for its rapid analysis speed, low reagent consumption, small size and simple operation, etc. Based on a microchannel network and supported by a MicroElectroMechanic System (MEMS), this technology integrates all the functions of a laboratory into one small piece of chip, which is called “lab on the chip”. This paper presented a brief introduction about microfluidics and its representative developments. Future prospects in the aspects of instrument miniaturization, system integration, chip materials, and detection techniques, as well as the implementation of microfluidics in aquatic environmental pollutant analysis were thoroughly discussed. Some problems faced now were put forward. With the rapid progress in the microfluidics, a universal lowcost microchip capable of high speed multichannel detection and integrated with many kinds of detection methods would be the research focus in the future.