In this paper some aspects of HPLC application in environmental analysis are discussed. Stress is put on modern liquid phases, selective detectors, on-line sample pretreatment and coupling with other analytical techniques. Most recent papers on the analysis of specially important classes of pollutants, namely phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, surfactants, carbamates, and other pesticides and their metabolites have been reviewed. A new interest in the application of modern thin layer chromatography possessing high performance and quantitation feasibility has also been stressed.