The concentrations of n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and uncharacterized material (UCM) are compared with those of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, and Zn for 98 aerosol samples from the North Sea. Significant correlations between PAH and several metals were found, with PAH-Pb relationships being established in samples from UK, continental European and mixed sources. It is suggested that the PAH-Pb relationship may be a useful marker of anthropogenic influences on aerosols and also a possible tracer of the change in such influences as a result of the increasing usage of lead-free fuel.