With the help of the Google Translator:
All muscle and liver samples tested positive for the presence of cocaine. Benzoylecgonine was detected in 12 muscle samples and 2 liver samples. The average concentration of cocaine in the animals was 3 times higher than the concentration of the metabolite. One hypothesis of the researchers to explain this data is the overexposure of animals to the substance. Another finding that intrigued the experts was the higher concentration of cocaine in the muscles than in the liver of the animals analyzed.
“Just like in humans, the shark’s liver is a metabolizing organ. Everything that is ingested is transformed by the liver and then excreted. To our surprise, cocaine was found in higher concentrations in muscle, which is an accumulation tissue, which may signal the abundance of the substance in the marine environment. The sharks would be contaminating themselves in different ways, whether due to the fact that they inhabit the region or feed on other contaminated animals”, highlights Enrico.
