This International Standard specifies a method for the quantitative determination of selected coal-tar-derived phenols, namely phenol, methylphenols such as (ortho-, meta-, para-)cresols, and dihydroxybenzenes such as catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone (see Table 1) in soil by using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet/diode array (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 0,08 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg of soil. NOTE Also with this method, other higher methylated phenols, for example, dimethylphenols such as (2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- and 3,5-)xylenoles, 2-isopropylphenol, 2,3,5-trimethylphenol and 1-naphthol can be analysed, provided the suitability and the validity of the method are proven.