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Published on January 13, 2025
Fentanyl Detected in Bottlenose Dolphins on Texas Coastline, Studies by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi RevealSource: Wikipedia/Simiprof, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In an unsettling discovery along the South Texas coast, researchers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi found traces of fentanyl and other pharmaceuticals in common bottlenose dolphins. According to a KSAT report, the investigation began in 2022 when scientists began examining dolphin blubber samples for contamination, unmasking the presence of potent human medications in the marine environment.

The study, which included contributions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Precision Toxicological Consultancy, tested blubber from 89 dolphins, revealing that 18 had fentanyl in their systems. Aside from fentanyl, 30 samples tested positive for sedatives and muscle relaxers. Dr. Dara Orbach, assistant professor of marine biology at the university, raised concerns of long-term, chronic exposure as a likely cause of this contamination, stating that "although we don't know with certainty, one possible route of exposure would be from wastewater treatment plants that are not treating pharmaceuticals." Orbach explained to KSAT.

Meanwhile, another study by the same institution spotlighted the broader implications of such findings. Assistant professor of biology Dara Orbach underscored the significance of the drugs' presence, especially since dolphins rank high in the food chain and their blubber is known to accumulate pollutants. "It's meant to serve as an alarm bell that we need to start looking for pharmaceuticals in our marine apex predators," Orbach told MSN.

The studies have broadened the scope of concern by implying a cycle of drugs from humans to marine life, and potentially back to humans through seafood consumption. As the research team delves deeper into this complex issue by examining shrimp, fish, and sea grass since 2024, there is a growing urgency to understand the full extent of pharmaceutical pollution. The alarming findings serve as a call to action regarding the disposal of unused medications and the treatment of wastewater, highlighting the interconnectedness of human activity and the well-being of marine ecosystems.