The first two months of particle light absorption measurements at the Pallas Sammaltunturi station demonstrate the very clean background air usually expected in such a sub-Arctic environment. However the PAAS-4λ clearly detected pollution episodes with enhanced particle light absorption. This indicates typical BC combustion particle mass concentrations with daily averages between 50 and 100 ng/m3 in these long range transported pollution plumes. In conjunction with back-trajectory analyses this data will help to answer the questions who is polluting the European Arctic with what type of combustion particles.