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A recent study has found traces of cocaine, caffeine, and common painkillers in sharks in the Bahamas, pointing to the presence of pharmaceutical pollutants even in marine environments often described as pristine.
Published in ScienceDirect, the research focused on what scientists call contaminants of emerging concern, or CECs. The term refers to substances such as pharmaceuticals and narcotics that are increasingly turning up in the environment and drawing attention for their possible effects on wildlife.
The study said these compounds are being detected more often in marine environments, especially in places linked to heavy tourism. In this case, researchers examined sharks in the Bahamas, an Atlantic island country, and found that some carried traces of four specific CECs: acetaminophen, diclofenac, cocaine and caffeine.
Of the 85 sharks examined, 28 tested positive for those substances.
Researchers collected samples from five shark species: lemon sharks, Atlantic nurse sharks, blacktip sharks, Caribbean reef sharks and tiger sharks.
According to the study, the findings marked the first known global detection of caffeine and acetaminophen in any shark species. The researchers also said it was the first report of diclofenac and cocaine being found in sharks in the Bahamas.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of caffeine and acetaminophen detected in any shark species worldwide, and the first report of diclofenac and cocaine in sharks from The Bahamas, an environment commonly described as pristine,” the study said.
Beyond identifying the substances, the study also found that sharks carrying these contaminants showed changes in several biological markers.
Researchers said sharks with CECs had altered triglycerides, urea and lactate levels compared with sharks that did not contain the substances. These are chemical indicators measured in the body and can help researchers track changes in metabolism and overall physiological condition.
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