Evidence of deposition of atmospheric pollutants in a remote high alpine lake in Austria.

In a 34 cm long sediment core of a remote, high elevation lake (central Austrian Alps), the chronology of six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Flt, B(b)F, B(k)F, B(a)P, B(ghi)Per and I(1,2,3-cd)P) was studied. Although for B(b)F and Flt biotic and/or diagenetic origins cannot be totally excluded, all of the PAHs showed maximum concentrations at the sediment surface, indicating increasing depositions of PAHs. For remote lakes of the world, the background concentration of Flt ranges between 80 and 375 ng/g.