Syringe‐Tip Filters May Contain the Artificial Sweetener Saccharin

Abstract The presence of artificial sweeteners in environmental samples is increasingly used to detect wastewater (and recently landfill leachate) in rivers, lakes and groundwater. Through routine laboratory quality assurance/quality control procedures, it was discovered that some syringe‐tip filters leach saccharin when used to process water samples. We subsequently tested several brands of filters to determine if they leached any of the four common artificial sweeteners analyzed in environmental samples, acesulfame, saccharin, cyclamate, and sucralose. Of the six types of filters tested, only one brand was a source of artificial sweeteners and the only artificial sweetener found was saccharin. The source of the saccharin in the filters is unknown but it is likely the result of some step in the manufacturing process. The saccharin was typically removed from these filters using a distilled water rinse of 13 mL or less. As a precaution, filters should be pre‐tested for the presence of saccharin and/or filters should be flushed with distilled water or sample prior to the collection of water samples for artificial sweetener analyses. Article Impact Statement : We demonstrate that some syringe‐tip filters may contribute saccharin to water samples being ­processed for artificial sweetener analyses.