HighlightsHighlights

• First report of CECs detected in shark serum from The Bahamas.
• Diclofenac, caffeine, acetaminophen, and cocaine detected in three shark species.
• Sharks with CECs showed altered triglycerides, urea, and lactate levels.
• Findings highlight emerging pollution risks in seemingly pristine ecosystems.

AbstractAbstract

Pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs are increasingly recognized as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in marine environments, particularly in areas undergoing rapid urbanization and tourism-driven development. Potential exposure to such contaminants, however, remains largely unexplored in The Bahamas. This study provides the first investigation into the occurrence of selected CECs (acetaminophen, benzoylecgonine, caffeine, carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, citalopram, clindamycin, cocaine, diclofenac, fipronil, fluoxetine, nimesulide, piroxicam, sertraline, sulfamethoxazole, triclosan, trimethoprim, and tramadol) and their potential associations with physiological systemic health markers (triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea, phosphorus, and lactate) in the serum of five shark species sampled from nearshore habitats in Eleuthera Island, namely Galeocerdo cuvier (Tiger Shark), Carcharhinus limbatus (Blacktip Shark), Carcharhinus perezi (Caribbean Reef Shark), Ginglymostoma cirratum (Atlantic Nurse Shark), and Negaprion brevirostris (Lemon Shark). Serum samples were analyzed for CECs employing LC–MS/MS and for physiological markers by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Four of the investigated CECs (diclofenac, cocaine, acetaminophen, and caffeine) were detected at varying concentrations in Caribbean Reef sharks, Atlantic Nurse sharks, and Lemon sharks, demonstrating their local environmental occurrence and bioavailability. Furthermore, sharks with detectable CECs exhibited triglyceride, urea, and lactate alterations in comparison to those where these contaminants were not detected. This represents the first report concerning CECs and potentially associated physiological responses in sharks from The Bahamas, pointing to the urgent need to address marine pollution in ecosystems often perceived as pristine.