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Researchers said they were surprised to find so many readings of cocaine in wildlife in rural Suffolk.
Researchers said they were surprised to find so many readings of cocaine in wildlife in rural Suffolk. Photograph: Andrew Darrington/Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Stock Photo
Researchers said they were surprised to find so many readings of cocaine in wildlife in rural Suffolk. Photograph: Andrew Darrington/Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Stock Photo

Prawn to be wild: cocaine found in all shrimp tested in rural UK county

This article is more than 4 years old

The recreational drug ketamine also turned up in samples of wildlife examined in Suffolk

Researchers have found cocaine in all samples of shrimp tested in a rural area of eastern England, with ketamine also widespread.

Scientists from King’s College London, in collaboration with the University of Suffolk, made the “surprise” discovery after taking samples from 15 locations across the mostly rural county of Suffolk.

“Whether the presence of cocaine in aquatic animals is an issue for Suffolk, or more widespread an occurrence in the UK and abroad, awaits further research,” said Nic Bury from the University of Suffolk.

The study, published in Environment International, looked at the levels of various “micro-pollutants” in freshwater shrimp.

“Cocaine was found in all samples tested, and other illicit drugs such as ketamine, pesticides and pharmaceuticals were also widespread in the shrimp that were collected,” said the study.

Lead author Thomas Miller from King’s said that “concentrations were low” but that the compounds “might pose a risk to wildlife.”

Contamination of the water supply by drug waste is an increasing problem, with residue from insecticides and recreational drugs finding their way into the system.

One of Miller’s colleagues, Leon Barron, called the regular occurrence of illicit drugs in wildlife as a result of “surprising”.

“We might expect to see these in urban areas such as London, but not in smaller and more rural catchments,” he added.


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