Abstract

In this study levels, fluxes and temporal trend of PAHs are reported in a sediment core from Chungara Lake (18 degrees S) in Northern Chile. The sediments were obtained by Kayac corer and freeze dried. PAHs were extracted in SOXHLET system and measured by HPLC with diode array detector and fluorescence detection. Sedimentary record chronology was determined using Pb-210 isotopes and organic carbon (%) was also measured in sediments. Concentrations (ng g(-1) d.w.) of PAHs were low ranging from similar to 1 to 50. PAHs fingerprint was dominated by 3-ring (21%) and 4-ring. Organic carbon (%) ranged from similar to 17 to 24 (21 +/- 3) and no statistical significant correlation (p<0.05) was detected between OC (%) and PAHs along the sediment core. PAHs fluxes (mu g m(-2)yr(-1)) fluctuated from similar to 0.3 (cm 1) to 35 (cm 5) in 1978. LPAHs/HPAHs ratios (0.04 to 3) indicate petrogenic and pyrolytic origin of PAHs. This results contributes with new information of PAHs deposition at high altitudinal lake in Southern Hemisphere.