Study Finds Cocaine Traces in Numerous Sharks

In a startling discovery, researchers have found that more than a dozen sharks off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine. This unprecedented finding was shared in a report on Tuesday, shedding light on a worrying environmental issue.

Scientists from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil tested 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks and found cocaine in both their muscle tissue and liver. These sharks were selected due to their small size and proximity to coastal waters, which are heavily contaminated throughout their life cycle. This marks the first time such drugs have been detected in free-ranging sharks.

Key findings from the study include:

• Cocaine levels in the sharks were up to 100 times higher than those previously reported in other aquatic creatures.

• Female sharks exhibited higher cocaine concentrations in muscle tissue compared to males.

The study attributes the increased cocaine levels to the rising global consumption of the drug, particularly in South America. Brazil stands as the second-largest consumer market in the region, with 22% of the world's cocaine users residing in South America. The report indicates that poor sewage treatment infrastructure, rather than traffickers dumping cocaine, is the primary cause of this contamination. Enrico Mendes Saggioro, an ecotoxicologist and co-author of the study, stated that the sea is polluted by illegal drug production and sewage discharge from human users.

The potential impact on the sharks' health remains uncertain, as further studies are required. However, previous research on fish and mussels suggests that cocaine exposure could have harmful physiological effects. Marine eco-toxicologist Sara Novais emphasized the significance of these findings, labeling them as "very important and potentially worrying."

This discovery underscores the urgent need for better environmental policies and drug waste management to protect marine life from the harmful effects of human activities.

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