Oyster larvae on drugs move slowly and are stressed
Study finds that exposure to addictive drugs like fentanyl and ketamine affect the behavior and survival rates of oyster larvae
2025-12-09
(Press-News.org) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EMBARGOED UNTIL DECEMBER 9, 2025
Oyster Larvae on Drugs Move Slowly and Are Stressed
Study finds that exposure to addictive drugs like fentanyl and ketamine affect the behavior and survival rates of oyster larvae
Washington, D.C., December 9, 2025 – The discharge and prevalence of psychoactive drugs in surface waters has raised concerns about potential risks to ecosystems and public health. Yet there is limited information on the ecotoxicity of these compounds in marine environments and aquaculture.
A study presented on Dec. 9 at the annual meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis in Washington, D.C., sheds light on the potential impacts of residual drug discharges on marine organisms. The findings suggest that traces of fentanyl, ketamine and benzoylecgonine (a byproduct of cocaine) can affect the swimming behavior and survival rates of oyster larvae living in contaminated saltwater environments.
“High drug consumption, continuous discharge and persistence contribute to the presence of drugs of abuse in surface waters, exposing aquatic organisms to chronic, low-level doses,” says Gustavo Salcedo, lead author of the study and a PhD candidate in the Francis College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Lowell investigated the physiological and molecular effects of three commonly detected psychoactive drugs - fentanyl (a synthetic opioid), ketamine (an anesthetic drug) and benzoylecgonine - on the larvae of C. virginica oysters (known as commonly farmed Eastern oysters). For the physiological assessment, three-day-old larvae were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of the drugs in saltwater over two weeks. Their survival and swimming behavior were monitored. For the molecular analysis, larvae were exposed to drugs for 12 hours, with changes in the expression of four stress biomarker genes (mapk14, hsp70, sod1, and gst) measured at different time points.
Key Findings:
After two weeks of exposure, survival declined in all treatments and doses.
Benzoylecgonine caused the greatest reduction in survival rate (62-76% lower than normal)
Larvae exposed to ketamine showed significantly decreased swimming speeds - most becoming completely motionless.
Notable shifts in swimming behaviors were observed. Motion changed from predominantly rectilinear (normal movement) to circular (fentanyl) or motionless (benzoylecgonine and ketamine).
Larvae exposed to benzoylecgonine showed a seven-fold increase in sod1 expression after four hours -- indicating a stress response in the oyster larvae.
“Our findings highlight the need for ecological risk assessments of these emerging contaminants in marine ecosystems – an area much less studied than freshwater environments,” adds Sheree Pagsuyoin, principal investigator of the study and associate professor in civil engineering at UMass Lowell.
More information on the study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325009340
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EDITORS NOTE:
This research will be presented on December 9 at 8:30 EST at the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) Annual Conference at the Downtown Westin Hotel in Washington, D.C. SRA Annual Conference welcomes press attendance. Please contact Emma Scott at emma@bigvoicecomm.com to register.
About Society for Risk Analysis
The Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) is a multidisciplinary, global organization dedicated to advancing the science and practice of risk analysis. Founded in 1980, SRA brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from diverse fields including engineering, public health, environmental science, economics, and decision theory. The Society fosters collaboration and communication on risk assessment, management, and communication to inform decision-making and protect public well-being. SRA supports a wide range of scholarly activities, publications, and conferences. Learn more at www.sra.org.
Media Contact:
Emma Scott
Media Relations Specialist
Emma@bigvoicecomm.com
(740)632-0965
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[Press-News.org] Oyster larvae on drugs move slowly and are stressed
Study finds that exposure to addictive drugs like fentanyl and ketamine affect the behavior and survival rates of oyster larvae
