Brazilian scientists reported that 13 sharks tested positive for cocaine. Ten of them were female, and three were male. Humankind’s acts, ranging from deforestation to rampant pollution, are eroding natural balance.
Brazilian scientists discovered one such frightening case and published a research article. The study involves 13 sharks who tested positive for cocaine.
The study, titled “‘Cocaine Shark’: First report on cocaine and benzoylecgonine detection in sharks,” appeared in the journal Science of the Total Environment. As per the study, the drugs were probably introduced into the marine ecosystem by drainage from illicit cocaine labs or from “excrement of drug users, via untreated sewage.” It suggests that the sharks could also have eaten the bales of cocaine dumped or lost in the water. However, the scientists are still unsure about the source.
How is this impacting marine life?
“Sharks and rays play crucial roles in marine ecosystems as predators, shaping marine trophic chains, and are recognised as sentinel species for environmental contamination. Additionally, they represent a valuable protein source and are extensively consumed worldwide. However, this consumption has encouraged even more commercial fishing activities, leading to significant population declines across various regions,” explains the study.
About the sharks that tested positive for narcotics.
The sharks that tested positive for drugs were Brazilian Sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii). Of the 13, three were men and ten were women. The sea creatures were caught off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, south-east Brazil, notably in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in 2011. Before releasing the study, the researchers gathered data on individual sharks such as length, weight, sex, pregnancy status, condition factor, and life stage across time.
Five out of ten female sharks were pregnant. Only one of the remaining five was an adult, with the others being minors. None of the male sharks were adults; all were classified as youngsters.
According to the study, the sharks were exposed to the medications in their natural habitat.
Get the latest news updates and stay informed with FELA NEWS!
