A recent study on dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico revealed a concerning discovery: the presence of fentanyl and other drugs in the tissues of these animals. The scientists made this unexpected finding during research that initially focused on analyzing hormones in these marine mammals.
The analysis included samples of fat from 89 bottlenose dolphins, of which 83 were alive and six were dead. These specimens came from Laguna Madre, near Corpus Christi Bay in southern Texas. The results showed the presence of various chemical compounds, with fentanyl, an extremely potent opioid, found in 24 of the analyzed samples.
The research, led by Makayla Guinn, a graduate student at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, used darts shot from a crossbow to collect small tissue samples. These samples were subjected to laboratory tests, where thousands of chemical compounds were detected, including muscle relaxants, sedatives, and opioids.
However, the assistant professor in the university’s marine biology program and co-author of the study, Dara Orbach, explained that the drugs were not only present in recent samples but also in those collected in 2013 in the Mississippi Strait. This indicates that these substances have been contaminating the waterways of the Gulf of Mexico for years.
Impact on Dolphins
Since dolphins do not drink water and get their hydration from the prey they consume, it is likely that fish and other marine organisms are also contaminated with these substances. In this regard, Orbach warned that this could be a much broader and longer-standing issue than previously recognized.
The presence of drugs in the tissues of dolphins could be due to various sources, such as sewage discharge, agricultural waste, or even drugs discarded into the sea in areas near the Mexican border.
This finding highlights the need for further research on chemical pollution in marine ecosystems and its impact on wildlife. For this reason, experts urge attention to this issue to mitigate its long-term effects on marine biodiversity.
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