Several drugs, including fentanyl, found in bottlenose dolphins in Gulf of Mexico, scientists say

The contaminants could be from a variety of sources.

ByJulia Jacobo
December 6, 2024, 2:35 PM



Scientists have detected fentanyl and other drugs in dozens of dolphins from the Gulf of Mexico, which could have large implications on the overall health of the oceans, they say.

The research began in September 2020, when marine biologists conducting a routine boating survey to monitor the dolphin population in the Gulf of Mexico came across a deceased dolphin floating in the water, Dara Orbach, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's marine biology program and co-author of the study, told ABC News.

The scientists could tell that the dolphin had just died because its tail was still moving, Orbach said. So, they decided to tow it back to campus to study.

. . .

Although they were just looking for hormones, thousands of compounds were generated within the analysis. The researchers were especially shocked when they selected three specific compounds that they thought would be unlikely to find in a dolphin -- fentanyl, a muscle relaxant and a sedative -- and found that the sample tissue contained traces of all three.

More:
https://abcnews.go.com/International/drugs-including-fentanyl-found-bottleneck-dolphins-gulf-mexico/story?id=116523978