“Cocaine Shark”: First Report on Cocaine and Benzoylecgonine Detection in Sharks

Cocaine (COC) and benzoylecgonine (BE), the main COC metabolite, have been detected in aquatic ecosystems. Studies focusing on wild fish are, however, very limited, and no reports concerning elasmobranchs are available. This study investigated COC and BE levels in Brazilian Sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) (n = 13) using LC-MS/MS. All samples (13/13) tested positive for COC, with 92 % (12/13) testing positive for BE. COC concentrations (23.0 μg kg−1) were over 3-fold higher than BE (7.0 μg kg−1). COC levels were about three-fold significantly higher in muscle (33.8 ± 33.4 g kg−1) compared to liver (12.2 ± 14.2 μg kg−1). Females presented higher COC concentrations in muscle (40.2 ± 35.8 μg kg−1) compared to males (12.4 ± 5.9 μg kg−1). Several positive statistical correlations were noted between COC and BE (rho = 0.84) in females, indicating systemic COC transport and metabolization, as well as between BE and weight (rho = 0.62), and between COC and the Condition Factor (rho = 0.73). A strong correlation was noted between BE and COC in the muscle of non-pregnant females (rho = 1.00). 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.