How is the Environment Impacted?
Artificial sweeteners have a huge impact on the environment. Sucralose in particular is studied globally, with researchers trying to come up with a solution on how to break down the substance. Sucralose is found to be incredibly resilient to the processes of breaking down substances in the wastewater treatment plants. This is a problem, because it builds up in surface and ground waters (Harth). Experiments were carried out in Arizona at seven different wastewater treatment plants, where the researchers were trying various methods of making Sucralose biodegradable. The goal of the study was to try to pinpoint the certain elements in Sucralose that would make the substance biodegradable (Harth). When other processes did not work, the researchers looked at the tertiary treatment where chlorine and UV light are used to disinfect the water. They were going to try to use the chemical that disinfects the water to break down the chlorine atoms in Sucralose. The diagram above illustrates a wastewater treatment plant. This illustration demonstrates the process of how waste water is disinfected and then is safely reused.
Consequently, Sucralose was found to be resistant to any form of degradation (Harth). Artificial sweeteners are contributing to the pollution in the water sewers and systems. This will eventually cause long term impacts to our environment, animal species, and eventually, the human species as well. However, researchers are saying that there may be a positive side to Sucralose not being biodegradable. The chlorine in Sucralose, may produce "intermediary chlorinated products," if broken down, which are highly toxic to humans (Harth).
Consequently, Sucralose was found to be resistant to any form of degradation (Harth). Artificial sweeteners are contributing to the pollution in the water sewers and systems. This will eventually cause long term impacts to our environment, animal species, and eventually, the human species as well. However, researchers are saying that there may be a positive side to Sucralose not being biodegradable. The chlorine in Sucralose, may produce "intermediary chlorinated products," if broken down, which are highly toxic to humans (Harth).