During the resource utilization of solid waste, the neglect of scientific analysis on the composition of iron sulfide-containing aggregates and their reactivity in concrete has led to severe concrete deterioration caused by such aggregates. Through investigating the research progress, the following conclusions are drawn: 1) Concrete failures induced by iron sulfide-containing aggregates have occurred extensively worldwide. Initially, this failure mode was identified as oxidation-induced expansion in geological engineering and foundation backfills. With increasing building service life and recent growth in tailing aggregate usage, European and American countries have widely reported adverse effects of such damage. Although relevant reports emerged later in China, the problems have rapidly manifested due to shorter latency periods. 2) The research of degradation mechanisms of iron sulfide-bearing aggregates in concrete has shifted from initial attention to single factors like pyrite and sulfate attack to comprehensive impacts on concrete performance. Comparatively, studies on pyrrhotite-bearing aggregates remain scarce. The degradation process caused by iron sulfides includes water-absorbing expansion of iron oxidation products, erosion from released sulfate during oxidation, and steel corrosion. 3) Significant variations exist in the reactivity of different iron sulfide-containing aggregates within concrete, leading to inconsistent sulfur content limits in regional standards across countries. Current preliminary identification methods for such aggregates include visual inspection, petrographic analysis, elemental testing, and indirect evaluation approaches. However, laboratory comprehensive assessments remain essential for accurately evaluating their suitability in concrete applications.

The existing research are conducted in the related fields. However, due to the extensive and complex nature of iron sulfides destruction, the field still faces other challenges.:1) Concrete engineering failures caused by iron sulfide-bearing aggregates have already occurred in China. It is crucial to enhance attention to such issues, promptly develop effective prevention and treatment measures, and minimize losses. Concurrently, technical training for Chinese engineers should be strengthened to improve awareness of iron sulfide-bearing aggregates, effectively preventing their misuse while ensuring rational resource utilization of other iron tailing aggregates.2) Current research on iron sulfide deterioration mechanisms in concrete mainly focuses on pyrite. However, pyrrhotite in aggregates exhibits higher reactivity, causing faster and more significant engineering damage. Therefore, urgent research is needed on the deterioration mechanisms of pyrrhotite-bearing aggregates in concrete. 3) Different iron sulfide-bearing aggregates exhibit distinct reaction characteristics, showing varied deterioration manifestations, development speeds, and impact ranges in concrete. Thus, sulfur content limits should be established according to different iron sulfide types based on China's actual aggregate characteristics, while accelerating the development of comprehensive evaluation methods adapted to domestic engineering conditions to propose effective preventive measures in standards.