• jaybone@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    11
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 day ago

    Are people really using enough cocaine that its impact on the ocean is significant? Like I’m guessing a lot of people drive a car, which I’m guessing is a lot worse than cocaine.

    • cenzorrll@piefed.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      20 hours ago

      Benzoylecgonine is very stable. It can in fact be analyzed in tap water in communities that recycle waste water to determine how much cocaine is being used.

      • ranzispa@mander.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        7 hours ago

        Indeed, but it is a fair question to ask: what is the actual concentration in the ocean? I did not read the study, possibly they used a concentration similar to the one encountered in oceans.

        • Cethin@lemmy.zip
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          5 hours ago

          Seeing as this is about salmon, it’s probably more relevant to ask about the concentration in rivers. A river downstream from a reasonable size city likely has a not insignificant level. I assume the ocean is effectively nothing though.