Cocaine found in all 13 Brazilian sharpnose shark samples | WION Dispatch

WION

23 Jul 202402:27

Summary

TLDRIn a bizarre twist, Brazilian sharpnose sharks from Rio de Janeiro's waters tested positive for cocaine, with 13 out of 13 showing high levels in their livers and muscles. Scientists suspect the drug may have entered the water from illegal factories or drug users' waste. The cocaine could impair the sharks' eyesight and hunting abilities, potentially reducing their lifespan. Additionally, a 1985 incident saw a bear named Pablo Escobar die from a cocaine overdose. The environmental impact of cocaine is also concerning, as it can be toxic to various marine species, causing infertility and cellular damage.

Takeaways

🐟 Brazilian sharpnose sharks have been found with high levels of cocaine in their livers and muscles.
🔍 The cocaine in sharks is believed to have originated from Rio's sewage system, possibly from illegal factories or drug users' waste.
🦈 Sharks consuming cocaine could face reduced life expectancy due to impaired eyesight and hunting skills.
🐻 The story of a bear named Pablo Escobar, who died after overdosing on cocaine dropped by drug smugglers, is mentioned as an example of wildlife affected by drugs.
💊 Cocaine is harmful to sharks, potentially causing infertility by disrupting the production of vitellogenin, which is crucial for egg yolk formation.
🦈 The absence of yolk can lead to starvation for embryonic sharks, impacting their survival.
🌊 The environmental impact of cocaine is not limited to sharks; it can also be toxic to mollusks, crustaceans, and fish.
🧪 Lab studies have shown that environmentally realistic concentrations of cocaine can cause DNA fragmentation and cell death in marine life.
📰 The findings are published in the 'Science of the Total Environment' journal, highlighting the broader implications of drug pollution in marine ecosystems.
🚫 The presence of cocaine in marine life underscores the need for better management of drug waste and its potential environmental consequences.
🌐 The script encourages viewers to stay updated with the latest news by downloading an app and subscribing to a YouTube channel.

Q & A

What is the primary subject of the transcript?
-The transcript discusses sharks in the waters around the coast of Brazil testing positive for cocaine and the potential implications for their health and marine life.
How many Brazilian sharpnose sharks were tested for cocaine?
-Thirteen Brazilian sharpnose sharks were tested.
What were the results of the tests on the sharks?
-All thirteen sharks had high levels of cocaine in their livers and muscles.
What are some potential effects of cocaine on sharks?
-Cocaine can reduce sharks' life expectancy, damage their eyesight, affect their hunting skills, and disrupt the production of vitellogenin in their livers, which is essential for their eggs.
What are some speculated sources of the cocaine found in the sharks?
-The cocaine may have come from Rio's sewage system, illegal cocaine factories, or from the excrement of drug users through untreated sewage. It could also have been lost or abandoned in the sea by drug smugglers.
How does cocaine affect the reproduction of sharks?
-Cocaine can disrupt the production of vitellogenin in shark livers, which forms the yolk in their eggs. Without yolk, there is no food for the embryonic baby shark, potentially leading to infertility.
What was the fate of the bear known as 'Pablo Escobear'?
-The bear, a 175-pound black bear, died in 1985 after overdosing on cocaine that was dropped by a group of Colombian drug smugglers in the wilderness of Tennessee.
How does cocaine affect other marine life besides sharks?
-Cocaine can be toxic to mollusks, crustaceans, and bony fish. Environmentally realistic concentrations can cause various signs of damage, including DNA fragmentation and cell death.
Which journal published the study on the effects of cocaine on marine life?
-The study was published in the journal 'Science of the Total Environment.'
What is the main concern of scientists regarding the presence of cocaine in marine environments?
-Scientists are concerned that cocaine can harm marine life, reducing their life expectancy, affecting their reproductive health, and causing cellular damage, which can disrupt marine ecosystems.

Outlines

00:00

🐻 America's 1985 Cocaine Bear and Brazil's Cocaine Sharks

The 1985 story of America's 'cocaine bear,' also known as Pablo Escobear, has a parallel in Brazil's 'cocaine sharks.' In Rio de Janeiro, 13 sharp nose sharks tested positive for cocaine. This discovery raises concerns about the sharks' health, including reduced life expectancy and impaired hunting skills. The bear died from a cocaine overdose after drug smugglers dropped their stash in Tennessee, whereas the sharks likely ingested the drug through Rio's sewage system or abandoned cocaine at sea.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cocaine

Cocaine is a powerful and illegal stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. In the video, cocaine is central to both historical and recent events, including the infamous case of a bear that overdosed on it in 1985 and the current phenomenon of sharks in Brazil testing positive for it. Cocaine's presence in the environment has harmful effects on wildlife, as demonstrated by the shark study.

💡Pablo Escoba

Pablo Escoba refers to the infamous Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar. The 'Pablo Escoba story' in the video links to a bear that overdosed on cocaine, highlighting the destructive reach of the drug trade. This connection underscores the historical impact of drug trafficking on both humans and wildlife.

💡Brazil's cocaine sharks

Brazil's cocaine sharks are sharks found off the coast of Rio De Janeiro that tested positive for cocaine. This discovery indicates a troubling intersection between human drug activities and marine life, suggesting pollution through sewage or abandoned drug caches. The term highlights the widespread environmental impact of drug trafficking.

💡1985 cocaine bear

The 1985 cocaine bear is a reference to a black bear that died from a cocaine overdose after drug smugglers dropped the substance in Tennessee. This story illustrates the unexpected and tragic consequences of drug smuggling on wildlife. The bear's death became a notable event in the narrative of drug-related incidents.

💡Seage system

The sewage system is a network of pipes and facilities for transporting and treating wastewater. In the video, it is suggested that cocaine could have entered the ocean through untreated sewage, affecting marine life. This concept underscores the importance of waste management and its impact on environmental health.

💡Marine biologists

Marine biologists are scientists who study marine organisms and their interactions with the environment. In the video, they are concerned about the cocaine contamination in sharks, studying its sources and effects. Their role is crucial in understanding and mitigating the environmental impact of human activities on marine ecosystems.

💡Drug smugglers

Drug smugglers are individuals who illegally transport drugs across borders. The video references both the 1985 incident where cocaine was dropped by smugglers, leading to the bear's overdose, and the possibility that sharks ingested cocaine abandoned at sea by smugglers. This highlights the broader ecological consequences of illicit drug trafficking.

💡Life expectancy

Life expectancy refers to the average period an organism is expected to live. The video mentions concerns that cocaine could reduce the life expectancy of sharks by damaging their eyesight and hunting skills. This term emphasizes the potential long-term effects of environmental pollutants on wildlife health and survival.

💡Vitellogenin

Vitellogenin is a protein important for egg yolk formation in oviparous animals. Cocaine can disrupt its production in sharks, affecting their reproductive success. The video uses this term to illustrate one of the specific biological impacts of cocaine contamination on marine life, linking it to potential declines in shark populations.

💡Environmental toxicity

Environmental toxicity refers to the harmful effects of pollutants on living organisms and ecosystems. The video discusses the toxic effects of cocaine on marine life, including DNA fragmentation and cell death in crustaceans and fish. This concept highlights the broader theme of environmental damage caused by human activities.

Highlights

Cocaine has been found in sharks swimming off the coast of Brazil.

13 Brazilian sharp nose sharks from Rio De Janeiro were tested and all had high levels of cocaine in their livers and muscles.

Scientists fear that cocaine exposure could reduce the life expectancy of sharks.

Cocaine can damage sharks' eyesight and affect their hunting skills.

A black bear named Pablo Escobar died in 1985 after overdosing on cocaine.

The cocaine found in sharks is believed to have originated from Rio's sewage system.

Illegal cocaine factories and excrement of drug users could be sources of the drug in the sharks' environment.

Some sharks might have consumed cocaine lost or abandoned in the sea by drug smugglers.

Cocaine is harmful to sharks, causing problems such as infertility.

Cocaine disrupts the production of vitellogenin in shark livers, affecting the development of shark embryos.

Cocaine is not only harmful to sharks but also to other marine life.

A study published in the Science of the Total Environment Journal shows that cocaine can be toxic to mollusks, crustaceans, and bonny fish.

Lab studies indicate that environmentally realistic concentrations of cocaine can cause DNA fragmentation and cell death in marine life.

The impact of cocaine on marine ecosystems is a growing concern among scientists.

The discovery of cocaine in sharks highlights the broader issue of drug pollution in aquatic environments.

Efforts to understand and mitigate the effects of cocaine on marine life are crucial for protecting marine ecosystems.