Sharks off Brazil coast test positive for cocaine

[Sarzy]

Sharks off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine, scientists say.

Marine biologists tested 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks taken from the shores near Rio de Janeiro and found they tested for high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers.

The concentrations were as much as 100 times higher than previously reported for other aquatic creatures.

The research, carried out by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, is the first to find the presence of cocaine in sharks.

Experts believe the cocaine is making its way into the waters via illegal labs where the drug is manufactured or through excrement of drug users.

Packs of cocaine lost or dumped by traffickers at sea could also be a source, though this is less likely, researchers say.

Sara Novais, a marine eco-toxicologist at the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre of the Polytechnic University of Leiria, told Science magazine that the findings are “very important and potentially worrying".

All females in the study were pregnant, but the consequences of cocaine exposure for the foetuses are unknown, experts say.

Further research is required to ascertain whether cocaine is changing the behaviour of the sharks.

However, previous research has shown that drugs were likely to have similar effects on animals as they do on humans.

Last year, chemical compounds including benzoylecgonine, which is produced by the liver after cocaine use, were found in seawater samples collected off the south coast of England.


www.bbc.com/news/articles/cek9mr43x1xo

[kittylady]

Jul 24, 2024 19:19:46 GMT Sarzy said:

Sharks off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine, scientists say.

Marine biologists tested 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks taken from the shores near Rio de Janeiro and found they tested for high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers.

The concentrations were as much as 100 times higher than previously reported for other aquatic creatures.

The research, carried out by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, is the first to find the presence of cocaine in sharks.

Experts believe the cocaine is making its way into the waters via illegal labs where the drug is manufactured or through excrement of drug users.

Packs of cocaine lost or dumped by traffickers at sea could also be a source, though this is less likely, researchers say.

Sara Novais, a marine eco-toxicologist at the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre of the Polytechnic University of Leiria, told Science magazine that the findings are “very important and potentially worrying".

All females in the study were pregnant, but the consequences of cocaine exposure for the foetuses are unknown, experts say.

Further research is required to ascertain whether cocaine is changing the behaviour of the sharks.

However, previous research has shown that drugs were likely to have similar effects on animals as they do on humans.

Last year, chemical compounds including benzoylecgonine, which is produced by the liver after cocaine use, were found in seawater samples collected off the south coast of England.


www.bbc.com/news/articles/cek9mr43x1xo

So now we have sharks swimming about and boring other sharks with rambling yet hyper conversations about about how totally fucking great they are and Woo! What a great fucking ocean, dude! But you know what it needs? Do ya? Well let me tell you - more of those cool packages the humans keep losing in the water 'cos bro, they are sweeeeeeet! One little bite and you are totally fucking buzzing your fins off! Yeah!

[beeyotch]

Jul 24, 2024 22:01:10 GMT kittylady said:

Jul 24, 2024 19:19:46 GMT Sarzy said:

Sharks off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine, scientists say.

Marine biologists tested 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks taken from the shores near Rio de Janeiro and found they tested for high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers.

The concentrations were as much as 100 times higher than previously reported for other aquatic creatures.

The research, carried out by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, is the first to find the presence of cocaine in sharks.

Experts believe the cocaine is making its way into the waters via illegal labs where the drug is manufactured or through excrement of drug users.

Packs of cocaine lost or dumped by traffickers at sea could also be a source, though this is less likely, researchers say.

Sara Novais, a marine eco-toxicologist at the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre of the Polytechnic University of Leiria, told Science magazine that the findings are “very important and potentially worrying".

All females in the study were pregnant, but the consequences of cocaine exposure for the foetuses are unknown, experts say.

Further research is required to ascertain whether cocaine is changing the behaviour of the sharks.

However, previous research has shown that drugs were likely to have similar effects on animals as they do on humans.

Last year, chemical compounds including benzoylecgonine, which is produced by the liver after cocaine use, were found in seawater samples collected off the south coast of England.


www.bbc.com/news/articles/cek9mr43x1xo

So now we have sharks swimming about and boring other sharks with rambling yet hyper conversations about about how totally fucking great they are and Woo! What a great fucking ocean, dude! But you know what it needs? Do ya? Well let me tell you - more of those cool packages the humans keep losing in the water 'cos bro, they are sweeeeeeet! One little bite and you are totally fucking buzzing your fins off! Yeah!

You know, this might go towards explaining why they are wandering into 6-inch deep waters all around the Florida coast, scaring the be-Jesus out of everyone.
They have never done this so consistently until the last 3-5 years. It weird and yes, scary.

[shellee]

That’s a great point Bee. Cocaine is all over the waters surrounding Florida.

[greysfang]

This isn't a movie plot?

[kittylady]

Jul 25, 2024 2:00:11 GMT greysfang said:

This isn't a movie plot?

Tara Reid is signing the contract for Cocaine Sharknado right now.

[kittylady]

Jul 25, 2024 1:38:32 GMT shellee said:

That’s a great point Bee. Cocaine is all over the waters surrounding Florida.

Didn't I just recently see pictures of you swimming in the ocean? No wonder you looked so happy! 

[shellee]

Jul 25, 2024 16:07:46 GMT kittylady said:

Jul 25, 2024 1:38:32 GMT shellee said:

That’s a great point Bee. Cocaine is all over the waters surrounding Florida.

Didn't I just recently see pictures of you swimming in the ocean? No wonder you looked so happy! 

You know it!!!🤣

[waterslide]

I randomly saw a video last night about dolphins (remember that topic from the old board? lol) and how they not only lightly bite on puffer fishes to get high, they know the safe amount to bite them so they don’t overdose. The fish doesn’t die from the biting, but from a heart attack from releasing so many toxins., iirc So yeah, stranger things have happened.

[kittylady]

Jul 26, 2024 18:01:41 GMT waterslide said:

I randomly saw a video last night about dolphins (remember that topic from the old board? lol) and how they not only lightly bite on puffer fishes to get high, they know the safe amount to bite them so they don’t overdose. The fish doesn’t die from the biting, but from a heart attack from releasing so many toxins., iirc So yeah, stranger things have happened.

Tetrodotoxin! It's the stuff that makes Fugu - aka puffer fish - such a dangerous delicacy for humans as it paralyses the nervous and respiratory system.  Fun fact for you: tetrodotoxin has been claimed to be one of the ingredients in so called "Zombie Dust" used to create living "zombie" slaves.

[Cartermrc]

I can't stop picturing partying sharks in the tropical ocean. 🍸🌊🍸🌊 🥳

[brookie]

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude...................

[MsDark]

So we now have douchbag dudebro sharks swimming around. Just great.