Effects of the artificial sweetener sucralose on Daphnia magna and Americamysis bahia survival, growth and reproduction

The artificial sweetener sucralose has been detected in municipal wastewater effluent and surface waters at concentrations ranging from ng/L to low μg/L. Few chronic ecotoxicological data are available in the peer reviewed literature with respect to sucralose. To address this data gap, 21 d Daphnia magna and 28 d Americamysis bahia (mysid shrimp) studies were conducted to assess the effects of sucralose on the survival, growth and reproduction of these organisms. Concentrations ⩽1800 mg/L resulted in no statistically significant reduction in D. magna survival or reproduction. Survival, growth and reproduction of mysid shrimp were unaffected by ⩽93 mg/L sucralose. The no observable effect concentration (NOEC) and lowest observable effect concentration (LOEC) for the D. magna study were 1800 and >1800 mg/L, respectively. The NOEC and LOEC for the mysid study were 93 and >93 mg/L, respectively. Collectively, these data suggest that the concentrations of sucralose detected in the environment are well below those required to elicit chronic effects in freshwater or marine invertebrates.

► Sucralose had no effect on Daphnia magna survival and reproduction at concentrations ⩽1800 mg/L. ► Sucralose had no effect on Americamysis bahia survival, growth and reproduction at concentrations ⩽93 mg/L. ► The mysid and D. magna NOECs are above concentrations detected in effluents and surface waters.