A group of scientists found that sharks near Eleuthera, one of the 700 islands of the Bahamas archipelago, They have cocaine, caffeine, painkillers in their bodiesamong other substances, highlighting human contamination in these waters.
According to research by scientists at the Cape Eleuthera Institute and international allies, they analyzed blood tests at 85 sharks and thus find out if they found illicit substances, stimulants or drugs.
This would be the first time that scientific research reveals that caffeine and acetaminophen have been found in sharks in the world and the first with cocaine and diclofenac in these animals in the Bahamas, local media publish.
Tests revealed that cocaine, caffeine, acetaminophen and diclofenac were found in some sharks.
The number of sharks with substances
These substances were found in 28 of the 85 sharks in different parts of Eleuthera, a remote island located 50 miles (84 miles) east of Nassau, capital of the Bahamas.
Caffeine was the component most found in 27 sharks, while acetaminophen was reflected in three, cocaine in two and diclofenac in three of the species that were tested.
Of all the places the scientists conducted the tests, The Aquaculture Cage was where they found the highest concentration of chemicals in Caribbean reef sharks.
The researchers, in turn, said that The Aquaculture Cage is frequented by diving boats or tour operators for shark diving excursions, which could contribute to the pollution of these environments.
The findings are significant as they play a critical role in maintaining marine ecosystems, and in the Bahamas, specifically, they support the tourism industry through marine conservation and shark diving.
Although scientific research has not revealed that the substances found inside the sharks have caused them any physical or health damage, it has found differences between the biological markers of contaminated and non-contaminated animals.
EFE Agency.
GML
