Perylene dominance in sediments from a subtropical high mountain lake

Perylene formation in sediments of water bodies has been a topic of continual discussion and debate. We report the concentration and age (ca. 660 yr) profiles of perylene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a sediment core from Emerald Peak Lake, the largest high mountain lake in Taiwan. Perylene is dominant at all depths of the sediment (ranging from 60% to 98% of total PAHs), a feature not commonly found in other sediments. The concentration profile of perylene with sediment age fits a first order kinetic model, which might be an indication of a steady sedimentary environment.