Scientists have discovered that sharks off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine.
Marine biologists examined 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks near Rio de Janeiro and detected high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers, with concentrations up to 100 times higher than previously reported in other aquatic creatures.
This research, conducted by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, marks the first discovery of cocaine presence in sharks.
Experts suggest the cocaine might enter the waters from illegal drug labs or through the excrement of drug users, with the less likely possibility of traffickers’ discarded packs.
Sara Novais, a marine eco-toxicologist at the Polytechnic University of Leiria’s Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, described the findings as “very important and potentially worrying.”
All the female sharks in the study were pregnant, but the impact of cocaine on their foetuses remains unknown. Further research is needed to determine if cocaine affects shark behavior, though previous studies indicate that drugs can have similar effects on animals as on humans.
Last year, chemical compounds related to cocaine use were found in seawater samples off England’s south coast, highlighting the broader issue of drug pollution in marine environments.
#MaltaDaily
