Artificial sweeteners are leaking into the water supply

New research shows that artificial sweeteners are not fully removed by waste-water treatment centers and linger in ground water, potentially affecting the water supply.

German researchers examined seven common sweeteners and found the “incomplete elimination” of four — acesulfame, cyclamate, saccharin and sucralose — in water that had already been treated.

Where they survive treatment, the sweeteners can build up in groundwater, which can then be turned into drinking water and the entire process starts again.

The scientists looked at water from 10 treatment plants as well as groundwater, tap water and water in several lakes and rivers. They confirmed that the higher the population around the body of water, the higher the concentration of sweeteners. A remote alpine lake was the only body of water that contained no sweeteners at all.

The levels are much too small for the water to taste sweet and the FDA assures that small doses of these sweeteners aren’t supposed to be harmful, even over extended periods. But for a sizable minority of people who try to avoid sweeteners for whatever reasons, this is troubling news.

(Image via Flickr: Bukowosky)