This International Standard describes a method for the quantitative determination of selected coal-tar derived phenols, namely phenol, methyl phenols as (ortho-, meta-, para-)cresols, and dihydroxy benzenes as catechol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone (see table 1) in soil by using high performance liquid chromatographywith ultraviolet (HPLC-UV-DAD) or fluorescence (HPLC-FLD) or electrochemical detection (HPLC-ELCD). It is applicable to all types of soil with contamination levels of individual phenols in the range of approximately 0,02 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg soil.NOTE With this method also other higher methylated phenols, e. g. dimethylphenols as (2,3-; 2,4-; 2,5-;