Scientists have discovered an opioid pain reliever in mussels and say its likely other marine life are also affectedScientists who track pollution have discovered traces of the pain reliever oxycodone in some mussels in Seattle’s Puget Sound. Scientists worked with the Puget Sound Institute to analyse the data and discovered three out of 18 locations came back positive for trace amounts of oxycodone. Two were near the historic naval shipyard district and one was in Elliot Bay near Harbour Island in Seattle. The week in wildlife – in pictures Read more“You wouldn’t want to collect [and eat] mussels from these urban bays,” he said. Scientists usually find chemical compounds in Puget Sound waters, ranging from pharmaceuticals to drugs such as cocaine, but this is the first time that opioids have been discovered in local shellfish, according to the Puget Sound Institute.

Source: The Guardian May 26, 2018 01:07 UTC