Sedimentary record of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Lake Constance

The enrichment of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in dated sediments from Lake Constance during the past 75 years corresponds to the general increase of European coal consumption within the same period of time. Coals are assumed to be the main source of heavy-metal enrichment; incomplete combustion (pyrolysis) of coal also seems to be responsible for the very sharp increase of PAH.