Atmospheric aerosols were sampled at four stations in the Norwegian Arctic and at several mainland locations in Norway during March 1983. Aerosol concentrations of Ni, Zn, and Pb were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and aerosol size fractions were analyzed by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE). Exceptionally high concentrations were measured in the aerosol size fractions below 2 &mgr;m diameter at the Arctic stations and at Vardo in northeastern Norway during March 7-13, indicating an episode of long-range transport of air pollutants into the Arctic. Trajectory analyses point to emissions from copper-nickel smelters on the Kola Peninsula and in the Southern Urals as the main sources.