Artificial Sweeteners in Aquatic Ecosystems: Occurrence, Sources and Effects

Abstract

The growing consumption of synthetically manufactured sugar substitutes, coupled with the lack of adequate national and international regulations, has led to the presence of various compounds, in different environmental matrices. Within this group, artificial sweeteners, despite their prevalence in mass consumption products, are one of the least studied pollutants. The high consumption of artificial sweeteners, together with the low efficiency of wastewater treatment plants, facilitates their detection in various aquatic ecosystems at concentrations ranging from ng to µg L−1. These concentrations have shown to generate adverse effects on the organisms that inhabit these aquatic ecosystems. The main objective of this review is to provide updated information on the global consumption of sweeteners, reported concentrations in various environmental matrices, and, in particular, the effects of exposure to these compounds on aquatic organisms.