Traces Of Cocaine Found In Sharks Off The Coast Of Brazil
Researchers in Brazil have found traces of cocaine in sharks off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, raising concerns about the impact of drug pollution on marine life.
The study, conducted by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, tested 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks and found cocaine concentrations in their muscles and livers up to 100 times higher than previously reported in other aquatic species.
Sara Novais, a marine ecotoxicologist at the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre of the Polytechnic University of Leiria, called the findings "very important and potentially worrying."
The researchers believe that the cocaine enters the ocean through drainage from illegal drug labs or untreated sewage from drug users. Although the possibility of traffickers dumping cocaine into the sea exists, it is considered less likely.
Study is first time cocaine has been found in free-ranging sharks
The presence of cocaine in sharks marks the first time such contamination has been recorded in free-ranging sharks. The study used liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to detect cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine in the sharks' tissues. All 13 sharks tested positive, with higher concentrations in muscle tissue than in the liver.
Wildlife activists have long been concerned about the effects of drugs dumped into the ocean by smugglers, and this study confirms that drug pollution is indeed affecting marine life.
The sharpnose shark, a relatively small species that feeds on fish and squid, is commonly consumed in Rio de Janeiro and throughout Brazil. Researchers warn that the presence of cocaine in these sharks could pose a human health risk, given their popularity as a food source.
Further research needed to understand full effect of cocaine on sharks
Further research is needed to understand how cocaine exposure affects the behaviour and health of sharks. Previous studies have shown that drugs can have similar effects on animals as they do on humans, suggesting that cocaine could alter shark behaviour in ways that impact their survival.
The study's findings have sparked alarm among marine biologists and conservationists. As the issue of drug pollution in marine environments gains more attention, there is an urgent need to address the sources of contamination to protect both marine life and human health.
In June last year, the US Coast Guard seized over 14,000 pounds of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, highlighting the scale of drug trafficking in these waters. The discovery of cocaine in sharks near Rio de Janeiro underscores the widespread nature of this problem and its potential ecological consequences.
Overall, the presence of cocaine in marine life is a stark reminder of the far-reaching impacts of human activities on the environment. The study calls for immediate action to mitigate drug pollution in coastal waters and protect the delicate ecosystems that depend on them.
