Researchers Find Traces of Fentanyl in Bottlenose Dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico

Wild animals rarely use narcotics without human intervention. Specifically, there are typically two scenarios where this might occur. First, there could be accidental exposure where humans unintentionally leave a narcotic within reach of wildlife. Second, researchers may conduct experiments to observe how animals respond to these substances.

One of those accidental exposures has happened in Brazil, where traces of cocaine were detected in sharks a few months ago. Similarly, dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico have recently tested positive for fentanyl.

Dolphins high on fentanyl. In a recent study published in iScience, researchers revealed that a group of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico has been exposed to pharmaceutical contaminants. These include the powerful opioid fentanyl, as well as carisoprodol and meprobamate, which are both analgesics used for pain relief.

The study involved analyzing 89 blubber samples from dolphins collected in Texas and Mississippi. The team found traces of these drugs in as many as 30 specimens. This highlights the extent of pharmaceutical pollution in American waterways and its impact on marine mammals.

Fentanyl in the marine ecosystem. Fentanyl is an opioid that’s 100 times more potent than morphine and has caused significant issues in some areas of the U.S. In the study, researchers detected fentanyl at a significantly higher rate than the other drugs, indicating that it’s easily stored in fatty tissues.

While direct contact with fentanyl may not be immediately fatal for dolphins, its presence indicates a more extensive environmental problem that could also affect other marine species in the Gulf of Mexico. According to researchers, dolphins are “effective bioindicators of ecosystem health.” As such, this contamination is likely impacting a wider range of marine organisms in an environment unprepared to handle exposure to these toxic compounds.

Persistent contamination. Some of the findings in the study aren’t recent. Notably, 12 of the samples analyzed date back to 2013. This suggests that pharmaceutical contamination has been an ongoing issue for at least a decade and has likely been underestimated. In fact, 40% of the drugs detected were identified in historical samples. As such, there’s a need for more comprehensive investigations to fully understand the duration and extent of the problem.

Not an unprecedented case. Another study revealed a few months ago that a dozen sharks off the coast of Rio de Janeiro tested positive for cocaine. As such, “human” narcotics are affecting a variety of marine species in different regions worldwide. This phenomenon highlights a global pattern where pharmaceutical waste is contaminating ocean ecosystems and impacting creatures that should’ve never been exposed to these substances.

A need for monitoring. Researchers emphasize the importance of conducting more detailed assessments and establishing ongoing monitoring systems to better understand the impact of pharmaceutical pollution on ecosystems. This includes reviewing historical samples and conducting cross-sectional analyses of different species to determine the persistence and extent of the problem.

Moreover, the recent findings underscore the necessity of addressing the sources of this pollution, such as the management of pharmaceutical waste, to protect both marine species and the overall health of the oceans.

Image | Talia Cohen

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