Project:

Investigating the Effects of Sucralose Exposure on Algae Growth

Students:

Jehee Nam, Sophia Zhang

School:

Tenafly High School,

Mentors:

Alan Brandstaedter

Abstract:

Artificial sweeteners (ASWs), chemically synthesized substances that are used instead of sucrose (table sugar) to sweeten foods and beverages, have emerged as persistent pollutants in aquatic environments, raising concerns about their impact on biodiversity. Unlike natural sugars, ASWs are resistant to breakdown, allowing them to accumulate in water systems, potentially disrupting aquatic ecosystems. Algae, as critical components of food webs, are particularly vulnerable to chemical changes, making them ideal indicators of ecological health. This study investigates the effects of sucralose exposure on algae biodiversity in northern New Jersey's aquatic ecosystems. Samples will be collected from freshwater and brackish water sites, such as those near Tenafly Nature Center, and analyzed using DNA barcoding techniques to identify species composition. Experimental groups exposed to sucralose concentrations reflective of global freshwater averages will be compared to control groups. By trac

Poster:

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