'Sharkface': Sharks Test Positive For Cocaine In Brazil, Scientists Researching If They Can Become Addicted

By Lucía Tedesco via El Planteo

Researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Brazil have discovered cocaine in sharks of the species Rhizoprionodon lalandii, commonly known as the Brazilian sharpnose shark.

The findings, published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, revealed that 13 sharks examined between September 2021 and August 2023 in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, a coastal area west of Rio de Janeiro, were intoxicated with the drug.

This is the first time the research team detected cocaine in sharks, said Enrico Mendes, a pharmacist and one of the lead researchers of the study, according to Página12. While traces of cocaine had previously been found in water and other marine organisms like mussels, it had never been identified in sharks before. The analysis showed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in 12 of the 13 sharks examined.

Why Are Sharks In Brazil Intoxicated With Cocaine?

The intoxication is attributed to a significant amount of cocaine present in the ocean, entering through the city's sewer system. The drug is concentrated not only in the sharks’ livers but also in their muscles.

See also: Sofía Vergara Learned How To Snort Cocaine And Smoke For Netflix’s ‘Griselda’

According to Mendes, residing in the region or feeding on contaminated animals is enough to lead to intoxication. Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis, a co-author of the study, warned about potential adverse effects on the growth and fertility of the sharks.

For humans, the health impact is minimal since contact with the water is sporadic and not consumptive. However, this species of shark is sold in the illegal market, prompting Hauser-Davis to call for greater controls and investigations to understand the extent of the problem.

One of the institutions investigating this phenomenon is the University of Florida, which has encountered a similar situation. The university is studying whether sharks can develop drug addiction. Tom "The Blowfish" and environmental scientist Tracy Fanara are part of the team conducting experiments in the Florida Keys, simulating scenarios where sharks encounter cocaine packages.

The sharks bit the packages, indicating behavior that could suggest addiction. Additionally, they dropped packages from a plane, and multiple species, mainly tiger sharks, reacted to them.

It is still uncertain whether sharks can indeed become addicted. The next steps will involve additional tissue and blood tests to check for the presence of drugs in their systems.

Cover image created by El Planteo with the help of AI.

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