Tracking the fate of artificial sweeteners within the coastal waters of Shenzhen city, China: From wastewater treatment plants to sea

Artificial sweeteners (ASs), as a new emerging pollutant, the fate from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to sea is growing concerned. In this study, distribution and polluted loading of six typical ASs were analyzed based on measurement in influent, primary effluent, secondary tertiary suspended particulate matter (SPM), sludge four WWTPs receiving waters near coast Shenzhen city, China. Elevated levels detected located highly populated area (about 14,000 people km-2). Sucralose was predominant all water samples (0.1–22.2 ?g L-1), had 1.6–704.0 times higher concentration than means other detected. Aspartame mainly distributed SPM sludge, fractions offshore exceeded 45%. Acesulfame, sucralose, cyclamate saccharin could be effectively removed by biochemical treatment. The average daily (4.2 g d-1 1000people-1) discharge (0.4 sucralose those ASs. Dissolved organic carbon UV254 can affect ASs, affects distributions aspartame neotame. As potential sewage indicator, neotame deserves further attention.