If the prospect of sharks lurking just off the beach wasn’t frightening enough, researchers in Brazil have discovered a new reason to be unnerved: Some of them have cocaine in their system.
In a study published last week, researchers tested 13 sharks off the coast of Rio de Janeiro and found that all had traces of cocaine in their liver and muscle tissues.
The levels of cocaine found in these sharks were reported to be as much as 100 times higher than in previously observed marine life.
It’s the first time this data has ever been found for any top predator.”This was the first study to analyze cocaine in sharks, following various studies on smaller species, including mollusks, crustaceans and even eels.
All 13 sharks examined were found to have unfiltered cocaine in much higher concentrations than in previous studies on other animals, indicating chronic exposure to the drug.
Persons:
“, ”, Rachel Ann Hauser Davis
Organizations:
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation
Locations:
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro