The focus of this research was to present a data article associated with organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) preserved in lake sediments. Descriptive statistics were applied in this dataset. Sediment cores were sliced immediately at the following layers: 0-20; 20-40; 40-60; 60-80; 80-100; 100-120; 120-140; 140-160; 160-180; 180-200; 200-220; 220-240; 240-260; 260-280; 280-300; 300-320; 320-340; 340-360; 360-380; 380-400; 440-460; 460-480; 480-500; 500-520; 520-540; 540-560 and 560-580 mm of depth. Chemical analysis of OC (i.e. OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4), EC (i.e. EC1, EC2, EC3), and the pyrolyzed organic carbon (OP) (i.e. OP1, OP2, OP3, OP4, OP5, OP6, Char, Soot) contents was conducted by using a DRI Model 2001 Thermal/Optical Carbon Analyzer. The chemical characterization coupled with statistical analysis reveal that vehicle exhausts are the most prominent factor governing OC/EC data detected in core sediments. These data underline some noticeable concerns associated with ecotoxicology and environmental safety of residents surrounding the Songkhla Lake.
Keywords: Elemental carbon (EC); Organic carbon (OC); Sediment cores; Songkhla lake.