Anthropogenic lead accumulation in sediments of a high arctic lake, oobloyah bay, N. Ellesmere Island, N.W.T. (Canada)

Abstract

Geochemical investigations of a sediment core from a high Arctic lake (Access Lake, Ellesmere Island, N.W.T., Canada) revealed a heavy metal distribution pattern which is similar to those found in sediment profiles in more polluted areas. A long‐range transport of anthropogenic heavy metals via atmospheric dust—as already reported from snow and ice in polar regions — is assumed to be the source of the heavy metal accumulation in Access Lake.