The US analyzed a group of dolphins off the Gulf of Mexico. 30 specimens tested positive for Fentanyl

Rarely does a wild animal “try” any type of narcotic without the help of man. We would say that there are two ways for such a situation to arise. On the one hand, a slip, a situation where humans have left the material in question within the reach of some species by chance or through carelessness, or directly to see the reaction of the creatures “through science” through a investigation. In Brazil, the first case occurred recently: sharks with traces of cocaine. Something similar just happened in front of the Gulf of Mexico.

Fentanyl Dolphins. A recent study that is going to be published in iScience has revealed that a group of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico have been exposed to pharmaceutical contaminants, including the powerful opioid fentanyl, along with carisoprodol and meprobamate, both analgesics used for pain relief.

The researchers reportedly analyzed 89 samples of dolphin blubber collected in Texas and Mississippi, and They found traces of these drugs in up to 30 specimens. The finding highlights the magnitude of pharmaceutical pollution in American waterways and its impact on this iconic species of marine mammal.

Fentanyl in the marine ecosystem. When we talk about Fentanyl we are referring to opioid 100 times more powerful than morphine that is wreaking havoc in many enclaves of the United States. It was detected in a significantly higher proportion than the other drugs, since it apparently distributes easily in fatty tissues.

Although not fatal by direct contactits presence in dolphins suggests a much broader environmental problem that could be affecting other marine species in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the researchers, dolphins are “effective bioindicators of ecosystem health,” indicating that this pollution is likely impacts a much wider range of marine organisms in an environment that is not designed to handle exposure to these toxic compounds.

Persistent pollution. Apparently, although the work is about to be published now, some of the findings are not recent. Apparently, 12 of the samples analyzed come from 2013suggesting that pharmaceutical contamination is a long-standing problem (at least a decade) that has obviously been underestimated. In fact, 40% of the detected drugs were found in historical samples, underscoring the need for deeper investigations to understand the duration and scope of the problem.

It is not an unprecedented case. We told it a few months ago. This year, a dozen sharks off the coast of Rio de Janeiro were reported to have positive for traces of cocainewhich indicated that “human” narcotics are affecting a variety of marine species in different regions of the world. A phenomenon that points to a global pattern in which pharmaceutical waste is invading ocean ecosystems and affecting creatures that should never have been exposed to these substances.

Need for monitoring. Researchers emphasize in their work the importance of conduct more detailed assessments and establish continuous monitoring systems to better understand the impact of pharmaceutical pollution on ecosystems. This includes reviewing historical samples and cross-sectional analysis of different species to determine the persistence and extent of the problem.

Furthermore, the findings underscore the need to address the sources of this pollution, including the management of pharmaceutical waste itself, to protect both marine species and the overall health of the oceans.

Image | caroline legg, APLA

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