Posted on 07/10/2024 5:46:39 AM PDT by Red Badger
Sucralose, an artificial sweetener, cannot be broken down by humans or many microorganisms, leading to its presence in water systems. A study found that sucralose alters the behavior of cyanobacteria and diatoms, potentially disrupting ecosystems. More research is needed to understand its full environmental impact.
New research explores the environmental implications of sucralose, showing its potential to disrupt aquatic microbial populations and stressing the need for further research to assess its full impact. Scientific research has well established that the human body cannot break down sucralose, an artificial sweetener present in numerous zero-calorie foods and beverages. Due to its stability, sucralose can pass through wastewater treatment processes and consequently, it is found in drinking water and aquatic ecosystems.
“We can’t break down sucralose, and a lot of microorganisms can’t break it down, either, because it’s a really tough molecule that doesn’t degrade easily. So there are a lot of questions about how it is affecting the environment and whether it’s something that could impact our microbial communities,” said Tracey Schafer, an assistant research scientist for the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and the soil, water and ecosystem sciences department, part of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Study on Cyanobacteria and Diatoms
Schafer is a co-author of a recently published study demonstrating how sucralose affects the behavior of cyanobacteria — an aquatic photosynthetic bacteria — and diatoms, microscopic algae that account for more than 30% of the primary food production in the marine food chain.
Researchers collected soil and water from a freshwater site and a brackish water site in Marineland, Florida. Back at their St. Augustine lab, they exposed samples to different sucralose concentrations and measured photosynthesis and microbial respiration in two separate time studies: every four to six hours during a single day and every 24 hours over the course of five days.
Compared to a control group, the concentration of freshwater cyanobacteria increased when samples were exposed to sucralose, but the concentration of brackish cyanobacteria spiked and then crashed when dosed.
“There is the potential that the freshwater communities might be mistaking sucralose for a nutrient, for a sugar that they can use as food,” said Amelia Westmoreland, the study’s lead author and a scientific researcher who worked on the project while completing her undergraduate degree in chemistry.
Potential Risks and Further Research Needed
Both freshwater and brackish diatoms exposed to sucralose displayed an overall decreasing trend in population compared to a control group. The difference between dosed samples and the control group was most profound, however, in the freshwater experiments.
Sucralose’s ability to both increase and decrease microbial community populations could potentially threaten a naturally balanced ecosystem, Westmoreland said.
“Extreme examples of how this could play out are the diatom community could disappear, and the other extreme is this community could completely overtake everything else,” she said.
Both Schafer and Westmoreland said more research is needed to fully understand sucralose and its impact on aquatic environments.
“I think this study was a good first step in starting to look at how sucralose could impact our aquatic communities, and hopefully it will drive more research forward,” Schafer said.
Reference:
“Sucralose (C12H19Cl3O8) impact on microbial activity in estuarine and freshwater marsh soils” by Amelia G. Westmoreland, Tracey B. Schafer, Kendall E. Breland, Anna R. Beard and Todd Z. Osborne, 13 April 2024, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12610-5
Splenda: A popular artificial sweetener that uses sucralose as its primary ingredient. It is commonly used in foods and beverages, such as candy, baked goods, and soft drinks.
Other sucralose-based products:
While Splenda is the most well-known brand, there are other products that use sucralose as their sweetening agent. These products may be sold under different brand names or as generic alternatives to Splenda.
Note that sucralose is also used in combination with other artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and acesulfame potassium, in some products.
lol
great ANOTHER way leftists are destroying the world!
well...arevthere any bugs that are naturally sweet because THOSE will be next on the menu of “you vill eat ze bugs and flavor them with ze other bugs”.
It seems lately that one sweetener or another is newly discovered to be health hazards. A few months ago the natural sugar alcohol Erythritol was made the new demon. Shortly before that, Stevia was under renewed scrutiny.
And lately, even Xylitol is getting a bad review.
I’m of the opinion that it doesn’t matter, in moderation.
Xylitol kills dogs............
Xylitol is a common sweetener used in sugar-free foods, but it is incredibly toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause severe harm or even death in canines.
How Xylitol Affects Dogs
When dogs ingest xylitol, it triggers a rapid release of insulin, leading to a significant drop in blood sugar levels. This can occur within 30-90 minutes of consumption, and the effects can last for 24 hours or more. If left untreated, xylitol poisoning can cause seizures, coma, and even death.
The Dangers of Xylitol
Xylitol is found in a wide range of products, including:
Sugar-free gum and candy
Baked goods and desserts
Toothpaste and mouthwash
Medications and supplements
Even small amounts of xylitol can be deadly. As little as 500 mg can sicken an average-sized dog, and 0.1 g/kg can be toxic.
Prevention is Key
To keep your furry friends safe, it’s essential to be aware of the products that contain xylitol. Always read labels carefully, and keep xylitol-containing products out of reach of your pets.
What to Do if Your Dog Ingests Xylitol
If you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol, act quickly! Contact your veterinarian, emergency animal clinic, or animal poison control center immediately. Every second counts in treating xylitol poisoning.
Remember, xylitol is a silent killer for dogs. Stay informed, and keep your pets safe from this deadly sweetener.
Bring back cyclamate!
Europe did..................
In the past, an article like this might alarm me, but now I assume all these studies have some sort of agenda behind them, so I just ignore them and move on with life.
This ‘study’ thoughtfully brought to you by the Sugar Cane and Sugar Beet Producers Union. ;)
Actually, we need to quit eating artificial anything. Stick with what God gave us in the first place.
What about cats?
cannot be broken down? dafug is it made of, kryptonite? anything that isn’t an element can be broken down, can’t it?
Just imagine a Ecco-whackjob with diabetes. They would be having conniptions.................
Can’t be ‘broken down’ by the body’s digestive system
Kind like corn.....................
Unless it has EXTRA Dextromethorphan, I’m not eating it! ;)
I think it was invented by cats..............
Oh, I get the picture.
LOL! But if that were true, it'd kill us humans, too.
Cat will not kill it’s own servants....................
🙄......................
I try to avoid all these substitutes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.