Salmon exposed to cocaine swim almost twice as far as those without, study shows
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- A study by Griffith University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences found that Atlantic salmon exposed to cocaine and its metabolite in Sweden's Lake Vattern swam significantly longer distances than unexposed fish.
- Researchers observed that salmon exposed to cocaine traveled 1.9 times farther weekly, with those exposed to the metabolite swimming an additional 7.6 miles compared to control fish.
- The presence of illicit drugs like cocaine and pharmaceuticals in waterways is increasing globally, posing a growing risk to aquatic biodiversity and altering animal behavior.
- Scientists emphasize the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment and monitoring to address the environmental impact of human-derived drugs contaminating natural habitats.
- A related study revealed that sharks in the Bahamas are also exposed to various substances, including caffeine, painkillers, and cocaine, highlighting the widespread environmental footprint of both legal and illegal drugs.
