The present invention relates to a water-absorbing polymer structure comprising about 10 to about 100,000 ppm, based on the solids content of the water-absorbing polymer structure, of a non-polymerized sulphonate, a non-polymerized salt of a sulphonate or a mixture of a non-polymerized sulphonate and a non-polymerized salt of a sulphonate, and less than 1,000 ppm, based on the solids content of the water-absorbing polymer structure, of non-polymerized sulphites, non-polymerized bisulfites, non-polymerized sulphinates or non-polymerized salts of these compounds.