Cocaine and Caffeine Detected in Bahamas Sharks; Emerging Pollutants Permeate Ocean

NBC News reported that this study analyzed 82 sharks, 23 of which tested positive for four emerging pollutants: acetaminophen, diclofenac, cocaine, and caffeine.

Acetaminophen is a main ingredient in common painkillers, while diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

The study captured five species of sharks: lemon sharks, Atlantic nurse sharks, blacktip sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and tiger sharks.

This is not the first time cocaine has been detected in sharks; in 2024, over 10 sharks off the coast of Brazil tested positive for cocaine.

However, the study noted that this is the first time caffeine and acetaminophen have been detected in sharks globally. It is also the first time diclofenac and cocaine have been found in sharks in Bahamian waters, an environment generally considered unpolluted.

The study also found that sharks containing emerging pollutants showed abnormal changes in triglyceride, urea, and lactic acid concentrations compared to other sharks.