I must admit that when I heard that a “sweetener” was potentially poisoning the beach waters of Presque Isle State Park, I was sceptic to say the least. Sweetener Poisoning Our Drinking Water; how is that possible?

Apparently it is not a myth, but a very possible problem according to a study undertaken by faculty and student researchers from Mercyhurst University.

Sweetener Poisoning Our Drinking Water

The “Study to identify levels of sucralose in Erie beach waters,” undertaken by Mercyhurst College into the presence of potentially harmful chemicals in the beach waters of Presque Isle State Park has shown that there is a new threat; sucralose.

Sucralose is a chlorinated form of sucrose found in artificial sweeteners and an estimated 4,500 products such as sweets and diet drinks. According to Dr. Amy Parente, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Mercyhurst, studies have shown that around 95% of sucrose is not metabolised by the body but excreted in the urine.

Sucralose in bodies of water such as Lake Erie could pose concerns for the environment and result in a negative impact on the local aquatic ecosystem. One result could be that sucralose in the environment can provide a false signal for nutrient availability; this could make organisms feel that their food supply is adequate, resulting in them foraging less, which could ultimately affect their ability to survive.

The presence of sucrose in our drinking water is also not good news, as it is a chlorinated artificial sweetener designed in a laboratory.  During the manufacturing process, three chlorine molecules are added to each sugar molecule, making it rather toxic by any standard.

Sucralose is a recalcitrant compound, which means that it resists break-down during chemical processes. This means that once it finds its way into groundwater or surface water, even treatment at water treatment plants will not break it down and it will end up in the drinking water.

Health problems that have been linked to sucralose include:

• Allergic reactions such as facial swelling; swelling of the eyelids, tongue, throat, or lips;
• Allergic skin reactions such as swelling, redness, itching, weeping, crusting, eruptions, rashes, or hives;
• Anxiety;
• Blood sugar increases;
• Blurred vision;
• Breathing problems including coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing;
• Depression;
• Dizziness;
• Gastrointestinal problems:  vomiting, diarrhoea, bloating, nausea, gas, or pain;
• Headaches;
• Heart palpitations;
• Itchy, watery, swollen, or bloodshot eyes;
• Joint pains;
• Mental fog;
• Migraines;
• Seizures;
• Sinus congestion, runny nose, or sneezing; and
• Weight gain.

If you suspect that your drinking water may contain this sweetener poisoning our drinking water, invest in a water cooler that either filters the drinking water direct from the pipes or a bottled water cooler that supplies you with fresh, pure spring water bottled at source like those supplied by Living-Water, which are designed to dispense Living-Water spring water sourced from the Wenlock range.

Squash Stix

Now Introducing Squash Stix!