Soil contamination by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is a problem faced in many countries as a result of rapid industrialisation. The suitability of Fenton oxidation for degradation of recalcitrant POPs as a short-term remediation approach has led to intense research within the field over the last few decades. In this review article, the fundamental principles and governing factors of Fenton oxidation for treating soils contaminated with POPs such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), are firstly discussed. Current practices of soil remediation through Fenton oxidation based on studies reported in the specialised literature are then reviewed with a focus on the potential of Fenton-bioremediation and electrokinetic (EK)-Fenton treatments in conjunction with in situ applications. An exhaustive bibliography on column studies is also covered in this work with emphasis on the technical approaches used. Finally, the last section of the article is focused on assisting soil scientists and environmental professionals in implementing in situ Fenton oxidation (ISFO) and provides some insights into future development of ISFO. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.