Cocaine and Ecstasy Were Found in Marine Life Along Britain's Coast
A recent study by the University of Portsmouth and Brunel University London found cocaine, ecstasy, and other drugs in marine life along Britain’s coast. Veuer’s Maria Mercedes Galuppo has the story.
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00:00A recent study by the University of Portsmouth and Brunel University London
00:05found cocaine, ecstasy and other drugs in marine life along Britain's coast.
00:10We found cocaine in our marine organisms, we found MDMA, we found methamphetamine,
00:16and these are in crabs, in oysters, in seaweeds, in worms that live in the sediment.
00:23Volunteer citizen scientists, including swimmers and sailors,
00:27collected samples from Chichester and Langston harbours, revealing high levels of harmful
00:32chemicals. Professor Alex Ford, a marine biologist, attributes the pollution to storm
00:37water overflows, sewage, historic landfills and agricultural runoff, reports Reuters.
00:44In 2021, southern water was fined £90 million for illegal sewage discharges in southern England.
00:51The full impact of these drugs on marine life remains unclear,
00:55though they may alter the natural behaviour of affected organisms.