Scientists have detected cocaine in sharks sampled off Brazil and The Bahamas—but the findings do not show that the animals were intoxicated or that the drugs caused them harm. In a 2024 study, all 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks tested positive for cocaine residues in tissue; a 2026 study reported cocaine and other contaminants in blood serum from sharks sampled in The Bahamas.
What did the 2024 Brazil study find?
Published on 20 October 2024 in Science of the Total Environment, the study tested muscle and liver tissue from 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) collected near Recreio dos Bandeirantes in Rio de Janeiro. Using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), the researchers detected cocaine in all 13 sharks and benzoylecgonine—a main metabolite of cocaine—in 12. The authors described it as the first report of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in free-ranging sharks. PubMed record for the study; journal article.
The authors reported cocaine at 23.0 μg/kg and benzoylecgonine at 7.0 μg/kg across the study. Mean cocaine concentration was 33.8 ± 33.4 μg/kg in muscle and 12.2 ± 14.2 μg/kg in liver. These are results from this small, local sample—not estimates for sharks generally. The study record reports these values.
The sampled shark is a small coastal species, making it relevant to studying contamination near shore. Fiocruz reports that the 13 sharks were collected at Recreio dos Bandeirantes and that muscle and liver were analyzed. The sample cannot establish how widespread residues are among other species or shark populations. Fiocruz’s report on the study.
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How did the 2026 Bahamas findings broaden the picture?
A study published online on 20 February 2026 in Environmental Pollution examined serum from five shark species sampled near Eleuthera in The Bahamas. It screened for a range of contaminants of emerging concern and reported cocaine, diclofenac, acetaminophen, and caffeine at varying concentrations in Caribbean reef sharks, Atlantic nurse sharks, and lemon sharks. This adds a second location and more species, but the results are not directly comparable with the Brazil study: one measured residues in muscle and liver, while the other examined serum and a broader group of substances. PubMed record for the Bahamas study.
The study abstract reports that sharks with detectable contaminants differed from sharks without detections in triglycerides, urea, and lactate. That is an association in the sampled animals; it does not show that the contaminants caused the marker differences. The abstract does not give all sample-level details or concentrations. Science News reports that researchers analyzed blood from 85 sharks, that 28 sharks across three species had at least one drug detected, and that cocaine was detected in one shark. Those counts are from the news report, rather than the study abstract. Science News coverage.
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What the findings do—and do not—show
- Residues were detected: the Brazil study found cocaine in every shark sampled and benzoylecgonine in most; the Bahamas study reported several contaminants, including cocaine, in some sampled sharks.
- Intoxication was not demonstrated: detecting a chemical in tissue or serum does not by itself establish that an animal was “high.” Neither study abstract reports a controlled test of behavior or intoxication.
- Harm has not been proven: the Brazil authors raised concern about potential environmental impacts. The Bahamas study’s reported physiological-marker differences are associations, not evidence of cause and effect.
- The source has not been traced to the individual animals: Fiocruz describes sewage discharged to the sea as a proposed main route, based on available studies. The cited account does not directly identify the source of residues in the tested sharks.
- These samples do not show global prevalence: the Brazil result comes from 13 animals of one species at one location. The Bahamas findings add evidence from other species and a second location, but they do not represent all sharks or the ocean as a whole.
Why the two studies cannot be treated as a direct comparison
| Study | Location and sample | Material tested | Reported findings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil, 2024 | 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks collected near Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Rio de Janeiro | Muscle and liver tissue | Cocaine in 13 of 13; benzoylecgonine in 12 of 13 |
| The Bahamas, 2026 | Sharks representing five species sampled near Eleuthera; Science News reports 85 sharks analyzed | Serum; Science News describes blood sampling | Study abstract reports cocaine and other contaminants in three species, plus associations with some physiological markers; Science News reports at least one drug in 28 sharks across three species and cocaine in one |
Tissue concentrations and serum detections measure different sample materials, and the studies examined different species and contaminant panels. Together, they show that detections have been reported in two sampled coastal settings—not that one place is more contaminated than the other.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why researchers are concerned
Marine animals can encounter contaminants entering coastal waters, and the detection of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in sharks raises questions about what those exposures mean for wildlife. The 2024 authors wrote: “This study represents the first COC and BE report in free-ranging sharks, and the findings point to the potential impacts of the presence of illicit drugs in environments.” In 2026, the Bahamas study authors concluded: “This represents the first report concerning CECs and potentially associated physiological responses in sharks from The Bahamas, pointing to the urgent need to address marine pollution in ecosystems often perceived as pristine.” Both statements frame a concern and a need for further attention; neither establishes a specific health outcome caused by cocaine.
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