Energy for the Environment

A study in 2019 showed that freshwater shrimp in the English countryside contained trace amounts of drugs such as cocaine, ketamine, xanax, and even some banned pesticides. The most prevalent of these compounds was cocaine, found in shrimp studied in all 15 sites studied. The effects of these drugs on freshwater shrimp are not yet known, but certainly nothing good for them or their environment. Similarly, a study published in 2018 found that cocaine in eels can lead to irreversible damage. As in humans, the cocaine made the eels become more hyperactive and aware, leading them to swim faster. However, ultimately the mature eels suffered damage to the skeletal muscle. In addition, due to the fact that the cocaine settles in the eels’ flesh,the people eating the eels would also be consuming cocaine.

Overall, the source of these drugs is not completely clear, especially considering that the freshwater shrimp containing drugs were in the English countryside (an odd place to expect this result). And, in the shrimps’ case, the effect of the drugs is not clear either. 

However, one thing is clear and that is that there is a problem involving wildlife and human-caused pollution. If the pollution is spreading even to freshwater areas in the English countryside, things have to be done. We do not yet know the full effect the drugs and other chemicals will have on wildlife in the future, but we do know that it can cause damage to certain marine organisms. If the pollution spreads even more, we could see detrimental declines in population and health of marine organisms. For example, the European eels mentioned above could be moved to extinction- their long migration would no longer occur with the damage done to their muscle and muscle fibers induced by cocaine. 

Both of these studies certainly raise questions about the handling of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals. Hopefully, there will be steps taken soon, before another population (marine or not) is put at risk.

https://www.iflscience.com/shrimp-fail-drug-test-for-cocaine-ketamine-xanax-and-valium-52317

https://www.iflscience.com/waterways-are-so-polluted-with-drugs-even-eels-are-getting-high-on-cocaine-48404