Cocaine discovered in sharks off of coast of Brazil, study hopes to explain why

Marine biologists announced on Tuesday, July 23, that sharks off of the coast of Brazil have tested positive for high levels of cocaine. The scientists tested 13 Brazilian sharp nose sharks caught on the shores near Rio de Janeiro and found the fish had high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers.

Researchers said they believe the cocaine entered the sharks’ bodies after making its way into the ocean through illegal labs that manufactured cocaine and drug users’ biological waste. Scientists also said that packs of cocaine dumped or lost by drug trafficker into the sea could be a source, though it’s a less likely cause.

Brazil is one of the world’s largest suppliers of cocaine and has poor sewage infrastructure, according to the researchers. Scientists said that is a major reason they are seeing increased levels of cocaine in the sea.

The higher concentrations of cocaine sharks likely mean they’re consuming sea creatures with the drug already in them, according to the study. Researchers now believe that cocaine is getting into the human food supply. Brazilian sharp nose sharks are sold in Brazil at markets, meaning people may already being consuming the cocaine-riddled fish.

The impact on marine life is still being researched, but scientists say all of the female sharks involved in the study were pregnant. It’s unclear what impact the presence of cocaine may have on their offspring.

As far as the effects of cocaine on shark behavior, studies have shown it to have side effects similar to those humans’ experience.

The team involved in the study said it hopes to expand its research to other shark species. The reason the Brazilian sharp nose shark was chosen is because of its small size and also due to the fact that it lives in a small area where it is exposed to large amounts of contaminant discharges, according to scientists.