Hydrocarbons, alcohols and strols in the dissolved + colloidal and particulate phases of the waters from a dystrophic lake, Skjervatjern Lake (Norway)

The composition of solvent extractable aliphatic, olephinic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols and sterols, in the dissolved + colloidal and particulate water phases of a dystrophic lake are described. Contributions from terrestrial vegetation, particularly Sphagnum moss, appear to dominate the distribution of n-alkanes, n-alkan-1-ols and sterols in the two water fractions. Pyrolytic contributions representing long-range transported polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) over the Scandinavian Peninsula are also observed. All biogenic compounds exhibit, in general, similar distribution coefficients between the two water phases (lg KD: 4.9–5.7) which is in agreement with their common combination with organic materials of analogous hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties. PAH constitute the only group of compounds with phase distribution coefficients (lg KD: 4.4–5.2) lower than the general interval. Finally, both in the case of the biogenic and the pyrolytic compounds, incorporation into the water column seems to be preferentially mediated by transport through the particulate phase.