Researchers have discovered traces of drugs, including cocaine, caffeine, and common painkillers, in sharks swimming around the Bahamas, raising fresh concerns about marine pollution.
The study, published in Environmental Pollution, analysed blood samples from 85 sharks near Eleuthera Island. Findings showed that 28 sharks tested positive for various substances, with caffeine being the most common, followed by painkillers like acetaminophen and diclofenac.
Scientists linked the contamination to increasing human activity, including wastewater discharge, tourism, and improper disposal of drugs. In some cases, sharks may have ingested drug packets that ended up in the ocean.
According to researcher Natascha Wosnick, the exposure is largely due to polluted waters, as sharks often bite objects in their environment and inadvertently ingest harmful substances.
While the exact behavioural effects remain unclear, experts say the drugs are already impacting the sharks’ metabolism, causing stress and increased energy use.
The discovery highlights growing concerns over how human waste and chemical runoff are affecting marine ecosystems worldwide.
