Here's what happens when you give salmon cocaine
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A study found that Atlantic salmon exposed to cocaine's main metabolite, benzoylecgonine, swam significantly farther and dispersed more than unexposed fish. The research suggests that widespread environmental contamination by cocaine and its metabolites could have implications for various aquatic species.
Researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences studied the effects of cocaine and its metabolites on wild Atlantic salmon. They fitted 105 juvenile salmon with tracking tags and implants releasing either cocaine, benzoylecgonine, or nothing, then released them into Lake Vättern. Salmon exposed to benzoylecgonine swam up to 1.9 times farther and dispersed more than unexposed fish. The study's findings suggest that environmental contamination by cocaine and its metabolites could affect various aquatic species. The effects might include entering unsuitable habitats, spending valuable energy on swimming, and changing predator and food encounters. The research has implications for understanding the impact of human wastewater on wildlife.
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