Sharks in Brazil Test Positive for Cocaine, Raising Environmental Concerns

In a groundbreaking study, marine biologists have discovered that sharks off the coast of Brazil are testing positive for cocaine. Researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation examined 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks near Rio de Janeiro and found alarming levels of the drug in their muscles and livers, with concentrations up to 100 times higher than previously recorded in other aquatic species. Experts suggest that the cocaine is likely entering the marine environment through illegal drug manufacturing labs or through the excrement of drug users. While it is possible that lost or discarded cocaine packs from traffickers could contribute to the contamination, researchers consider this scenario less probable. Sara Novais, a marine eco-toxicologist, emphasized the significance of these findings, describing them as “very important and potentially worrying.” All the female sharks studied were pregnant, raising concerns about the potential effects of cocaine exposure on their developing foetuses, although the specific consequences remain unknown. The study highlights the need for further research to determine whether cocaine exposure is altering the behavior of these sharks. Previous studies have indicated that drugs can have similar effects on animals as they do on humans, underscoring the urgency of understanding the implications of this contamination. This discovery follows earlier findings of chemical compounds related to cocaine in seawater samples off the south coast of England, indicating a broader issue of drug pollution in marine ecosystems.