Department of Chemistry - PhD Student Seminar - Impact of Artificial Sweeteners on Human Health and Environmental Sustainability

Student: Ms. Wing Laam LUK

Department: Department of Chemistry, HKUST

Supervisor: Prof. Simon Wan CHAN

Abstract

Due to increasing public health concerns and more prevalent metabolic disorders related to excessive sugar intake, artificial sweeteners were developed as low-calorie sugar substitutes. However, scientific evidence is beginning to challenge their biological inertness and reveal unexpected consequences. This seminar explores the impact of artificial sweeteners on human health and the environment. First, their biological roles in human health will be examined, with a focus on their capacity to alter the gut microbiome. Moreover, it is reported to cause microbial dysbiosis, which can lead to glycemic dysregulation and weight gain, thereby counteracting their original dietary purpose.

Beyond human health, the massive consumption of artificial sweeteners also presents significant ecological challenges. Due to their chemical stability, they often resist conventional wastewater treatment processes and exhibit widespread occurrence in the marine environment. This seminar also discusses their classification as emerging environmental contaminants, evaluates current data on their accumulation in wastewater effluents and their potential ecotoxicological risks to aquatic life. To conclude, this presentation highlights the need for a comprehensive re-evaluation of artificial sweeteners, balancing their dietary benefits against their hidden costs to both human health and environmental sustainability.