Fentanyl and Other Pharmaceuticals Found in Gulf of Mexico Dolphins

A Texas A&M study reveals widespread pharmaceutical contamination in dolphin blubber, raising concerns about marine and human ecosystem health.

Researchers detected fentanyl, sedatives, and muscle relaxants in the blubber of 30 bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, including both live and deceased animals.
The study analyzed 89 dolphin tissue samples collected between 2013 and 2020, with pharmaceuticals found in dolphins from Texas and Mississippi waters.
Fentanyl was the most prevalent drug, found in 24 dolphins, including all six deceased specimens, suggesting long-term contamination of the marine environment.
Scientists hypothesize the drugs entered the ecosystem through wastewater, agricultural runoff, or discarded substances, potentially impacting the food chain and human health.
The findings highlight the need for large-scale studies to assess the extent of pharmaceutical pollution and its effects on marine life and ecosystems.