Oil spill impact on Brazilian coral reefs based on seawater polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination, biliary fluorescence and enzymatic biomarkers in damselfish Stegastes fuscus (Teleostei, Pomacentridae)

The crude oil contamination along the Brazilian Northeast coast significantly impacted reef ecosystems. This study assessed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater, fluorescence of bile PAHs, and biochemical biomarkers in damselfish Stegastes fuscus across four coral reef areas pre- and post-oil contamination. Serrambi (SE) and Japaratinga (JP1) were identified as suitable reference areas. PAH concentrations significantly increased in water post-contamination, predominantly 2 to 3 ring parent and alkylated PAHs. Biliary PAHs naphthalene, phenanthrene, chrysene, pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene increased on Paiva post-spill versus pre-spill to 173 %, 449 %, 334 %, 331 % and 131 %, respectively. Significant increases in ethoxy-resorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) (852 %), catalase (CAT) (139 %) and decrease in lipid peroxidation (LPO) (40 %) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (75 %) were verified in Paiva samples. Biliary PAHs and biochemical biomarkers were altered in S. fuscus after exposure to PAHs dissolved from the oil. Stegastes fuscus emerges as a promising sentinel organism for coastal reef oil pollution monitoring. [Display omitted] •PAHs dissolved from emulsified oil and contaminated water in 3 coral reef ecosystems.•PAHs in bile of reef fish Stegastes fuscus increased.•Fish bile PAHs and biochemical biomarkers characterized the oil impact in coral reefs.•Stegastes fuscus is a viable sentinel species to monitor oil effects in reef areas.