This paper reports on an ice core drilled to bedrock at Mt Elbrus (5115 m a.s.l., Russia) to reconstruct the atmospheric pollution since the 19th century in south-eastern Europe. The annual dust-free sulfate record indicates a 7-fold increase from prior to 1900 to 1980–1995. Consistent with past SO₂ emission inventories, a much earlier onset and a more pronounced decrease in the sulfur pollution over the last 3 decades are observed in western Europe than in south-eastern and eastern Europe.