Sweet in the mouth, bitter for the environment. This could be the epigraph of artificial sweeteners, according to the latest research from the University of Florida (that I link to you here). If we humans can't metabolize substances like sucralose, nature seems to have even more difficulty. The result? A real ecological earthquake in our waters, where tiny but fundamental microorganisms are suffering the impact of this sweetening invasion.
The problem with sucralose
Sucralose, widely used in zero-calorie foods and beverages, is becoming a growing concern for scientists. The marine bioscientist Tracey Schafer from the University of Florida explains:
We can't break down sucralose, and many microorganisms can't either, because it's a really tough molecule that doesn't break down easily.
This resistance to degradation means that sucralose (more than other artificial sweeteners) persists in the environment, raising questions about its long-term ecological impact.
The study: an immersion in fresh and brackish waters
To better understand the effects of sucralose, researchers conducted experiments on samples taken from freshwater and brackish water sites in Marineland, Florida. These samples were exposed to different concentrations of sucralose in the laboratory for five days.
The results revealed significant effects on two key groups of microorganisms:
- Cyanobacteria: In freshwater, their concentrations increased when exposed to sucralose. In brackish water, they showed a peak followed by a collapse.
- Diatoms: In both freshwater and brackish water, diatom populations generally declined after exposure to sucralose, with a more pronounced impact in freshwater.
A delicate balance
Chemistry Amelia Westmoreland, co-author of the study, hypothesizes:
There is a possibility that freshwater communities are mistaking sucralose for a nutrient, for a sugar that they can use as food.
This misinterpretation could explain the initial increase in cyanobacteria, followed by a decline when the nutritional “false promise” fails to materialize.
Ecosystem implications: a domino effect?
Two consequences of these changes could be far-reaching:
- Diatoms at risk: As the oceans' major primary producers and crucial regulators of carbon and oxygen cycles, a decline in diatoms could have significant impacts on the entire aquatic food web.
- Proliferation of cyanobacteria: An uncontrolled increase in cyanobacteria could overwhelm other species in the microbial community, altering delicate ecological balances.
Beyond ecosystems: impact of artificial sweeteners such as sucralose on human health.
If this study focuses on environmental effects, we cannot ignore the potential implications for human health. Some studies suggest that artificial sweeteners may interfere with gut bacteria and even damage cellular DNA. But don't panic: more research is needed to confirm these long-term results.
The future of research: an important first step
Schafer highlights the importance of this study as a starting point:
I think this study was a good first step in starting to look at how sucralose might affect our aquatic communities, and we hope it spurs further research.
As we wait for more scientific evidence to come from exploring the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners, it may be wise to take a precautionary approach. Reduce consumption both sugar that artificial sweeteners could be the best choice for us and the planet.
Because the true "sweet balance" does not lie so much in what we add to our food, but in how we live in harmony with the world around us.
