Occurrence of mercury in polychaete species (Annelida) and their associated sediments from an important Southern Atlantic Ocean Bay

In the present study, the Hg levels in freshly collected polychaete species and their associated sediments were evaluated from Todos os Santos Bay, Northeastern Brazil. Additionally, it was also measured the Hg distribution along the annelids' body parts (anterior region, abdomen, and posterior region). Total Hg concentration was as follows: 13.6–144 μg kg−1 (Scolelepis chilensis, deposit feeder), 8.2–122 μg kg−1 (Laeonereis acuta, deposit feeder), 95–612 μg kg−1 (Armandia agilis, deposit feeder); 96.6–206 μg kg−1 (Lumbrineris sp., carnivorous), 75.3–112 μg kg−1 (Goniada echinulate, carnivorous), and 115–198 μg kg−1 (Branchiomma sp., suspension feeder). In turn, Hg levels in sediments ranged from 2.77 ± 0.24 to 6.38 ± 0.15 μg kg−1. Hg concentrations found in polychaete soft tissues were higher than those found in the sediments. Specific habits, feeding behavior, trophic level, and stressful environmental conditions are the main factors affecting the Hg levels in the species studied. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF), contamination factor (CF), and ecological risk assessment (Er) were calculated. The BAF values were higher than 1 for all studied species, indicating Hg bioaccumulation in the annelids, but the low levels of CF e Er showed those Hg levels present low to no significant ecological risk for the biota and benthonic organisms living in the sediments. Finally, no statistically significant difference was observed for Hg concentration levels along the polychaete body parts. [Display omitted] •Total Hg concentrations were higher in polychaetes than sediments.•Body parts showed no significant differences in the Hg concentrations.•Polychaetes from different species exhibited high Hg bioaccumulation potential.•Sediments in the collected areas indicate Hg contamination.•The found Hg levels present low to no significant risk to the biota.