Heating season spikes toxic mercury levels in urban coastal zones.
Small aerosols in the Gulf of Gdansk contain mercury bonded with carbon, especially during the heating period when fossil fuels are used for heating. High concentrations of mercury, organic carbon, and elemental carbon are found during this time. When air comes from land, mercury levels are linked to carbon emissions. In non-heating periods, lower concentrations are observed due to less combustion and higher precipitation. However, when air comes from the sea or port areas, mercury levels rise, possibly due to factors like humidity and emissions from ships.