In the present study a critical evaluation of analytical methods for the determination of PAHs in wastes originating from fossil fuel processing in general, and particularly from combustion and retorting of Estonian oil shale is presented. The analysis for PAHs in solid matrices includes several procedures, i.e. separation, cleanup and final determination. Classical and modern separation methods are characterized and examples of their use for oil shale wastes are demonstrated. For the final determination of PAHs in oil shale matrices chromatographic methods are used. A new approach involving the use of fluorinated PAHs as internal standards is introduced and discussed.