Anthropogenic ocean pollution manifests itself in different ways. One of the most unusual consequences was the appearance of «cocaine sharks», which has been seriously worrying environmentalists for some time.
This information is reported by the Daily Mail, which quotes URA-Inform.
It is noted that the problem is acute off the coast of both Americas, where there are large maritime drug trafficking routes. Sometimes packages of cocaine are found on beaches, therefore, there is a possibility that some packages could be damaged and contaminate the water with their contents.
A group of Brazilian biologists have discovered for the first time high concentrations of cocaine and its components (including benzoylecgonine) in the bodies of wild Brazilian longnose sharks Rhizoprionodon lalandii.
The study involved 13 sharks caught near Rio de Janeiro. Scientists conducted a thorough chemical analysis of the tissues, which confirmed the presence of cocaine and its components in the liver and muscles of all sharks except one. The maximum cocaine value was 10.75 μg per kilogram of shark weight.
As scientists note, drugs have a devastating effect on the health of sharks, many species of which are endangered. The presence of cocaine in the sharks' bodies indicates that other marine inhabitants are also likely to be susceptible to this negative effect.
At the same time, the “infected” cocaine fish can be dangerous for people who eat them.
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