Sediment quality triad (SQT), one of the important sediment quality assessment approaches, is defined as a conceptual and integrated technique based on biological response. It mainly comprises three complementary levels of evidence including sediment chemistry, laboratory sediment toxicity test and in situ benthic community structure. Each of the three traditional levels of evidence alone can independently reflect the environment risk of the contaminant in sediment by selecting suitable parameters. However, by combining these three levels of evidence, this approach can provide a comprehensive assessment in a weight of evidence means, which enhances the causal-effect relationship between the elevated chemical exposure and adverse biological effect, furthers the understanding of the ecology relevance between the hazardous materials and pollution levels. As consequences, it provides a robust basis for costal environmental control and remediation. Our objective is to focus on the newly advancement of SQT approach, draw experience and lessons to promote the coastal sediment quality assessment in China. This paper reviewed the history and development of the method detailed in 2 aspects including evidence composition, data simplification and interpretation method. We further investigated techniques to enhance the reliability of SQT evaluation and prospect for the method and application research in view of our country's current status of coastal sediment quality assessment. Literature analysis shows that diversifying levels of evidence and improving data interpretation method can make evaluation result more reliable and understandable. SQT assessment can be more transparency by formalize and standardize the current interpretive tools, for instance, the tabular decision matrices. The SQT has been intensively used in the North America and frequently adopted as environmental management tools in European countries especially the Spain. It is one of the most applicable comprehensive assessment methods that the SQT intends to evaluate the adverse effect caused by chemical stressor in mediums like sediment. However, it should further develop to resolve and enhance the reliability, transparency of evaluation.