Sammendrag
Sucralose (1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-b-D-fructo-furanosyl 4-chloro-4-deoxy-a-D-galactopyranoside), sold
under the trade name Splenda®, has been detected in municipal effluents and surface waters in the United
States and Europe. The environmental presence of sucralose has led to interest in the possibility of toxic effects
in non-target species. This review presents an environmental risk assessment of sucralose based on
available data concerning its presence, fate and effects in the environment. Sucralose, which is made by selective
chlorination of sucrose, is a highly stable compound, which undergoes negligible metabolism in mammals,
including humans, and displays a low biodegradation potential in the environment. This intense
sweetener is highly soluble in water, displays a low bioaccumulation potential and a low sorption potential
to soil and organic matter, and thus is predominantly present in the water column. The predicted environmental
concentration (PEC) for sucralose, based on measured data in surface waters, was determined to be
10 μg/L. Aquatic toxicity studies using standardized, validated protocols used in regulatory decision making
indicate that sucralose does not alter survival, growth and reproduction of aquatic organisms (such as plants,
algae, crustaceans and fish) at concentrations >9000 times higher than those detected in the environment.
Some studies, using non-standardized protocols, have reported behavioral and other non-traditional responses
in aquatic organisms, but the relevance of these findings for assessing adverse effects on individuals
and populations will require further investigation. In terms of traditional risk assessment, the proposed predicted
no effect concentration for aquatic organisms (PNEC) was determined to be 0.93 mg/L, based on the
lowest no effect concentration (NOEC) from a validated chronic study with mysid shrimp and an application
factor of 100. The resultant PEC/PNEC quotient was determined to be well below 1 (PEC/PNEC=0.08), thus
indicating a limited risk to the environment using traditional ecological risk assessment approaches.
Vis fullstendig beskrivelse