We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Nanoplastics Detected in Commercial Sea Salt
AI summary Read the abstract
Using advanced detection methods, researchers found nanoplastics -- plastic particles too small to see -- in commercial sea salts from Asia, Australasia, Europe, and the Atlantic region. Based on the levels detected, they estimate the average person could be swallowing up to 6 million nanoplastic particles per year just from sea salt consumption alone.
People of all ages consume salt every day, but is it really just salt? Plastic nanoparticles [nanoplastics (NPs)] pose an increasing environmental threat and have begun to contaminate everyday salt in consumer goods. Herein, we developed a combined surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) approach that can realize the filtration, enrichment, and detection of NPs in commercial salt. The Au-loaded (50 nm) anodic alumina oxide substrate was used as the SERS substrate to explore the potential types of NP contaminants in salts. SRS was used to conduct imaging and quantify the presence of the NPs. SRS detection was successfully established through standard plastics, and NPs were identified through the match of the hydrocarbon group of the nanoparticles. Simultaneously, the NPs were quantified based on the high spatial resolution and rapid imaging of the SRS imaging platform. NPs in sea salts produced in Asia, Australasia, Europe, and the Atlantic were studied. We estimate that, depending on the location, an average person could be ingesting as many as 6 million NPs per year through the consumption of sea salt alone. The potential health hazards associated with NP ingestion should not be underestimated.
More Papers Like This
Nanoplastics Detected in Commercial Sea Salt
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers detected nanoplastic particles in commercial sea salt samples using advanced analytical techniques, demonstrating that a widely consumed everyday food product is contaminated with plastic nanoparticles derived from ocean and atmospheric pollution. The findings raise concerns about dietary nanoplastic exposure for people of all ages through routine salt consumption.
The presence of microplastics in commercial salts from different countries
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed 17 commercial salt brands from eight countries and found microplastic particles in all but one, with concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 particles per kilogram. The most common plastics were polypropylene and polyethylene, appearing mainly as fragments. While the estimated human intake from salt alone appears minimal, the study confirms that microplastics have infiltrated yet another everyday food product.
“Microplastic seasoning”: A study on microplastic contamination of sea salts in Bangladesh
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested 18 brands of commercial sea salt from Bangladesh and found microplastics present in every sample, with an average of about 472 particles per kilogram. The study suggests that sea salt represents a dietary pathway for human microplastic exposure, with fibers and fragments being the most commonly detected particle types.
Quantifying ecological risks of aquatic micro- and nanoplastic
AI summary Read the abstract
This study analyzed microplastic contamination in table salts from multiple countries and found plastic particles present in the vast majority of samples tested. Sea salt contained the highest levels of microplastics compared to rock and lake salts, reflecting the extent of marine plastic pollution. The findings suggest that table salt is a previously underappreciated pathway for human microplastic ingestion, with estimated annual intake varying by geographic region.
Proliferation of microplastics in commercial sea salts from the world longest sea beach of Bangladesh
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed 13 commercial sea salt brands from Bangladesh and found an average of 2,676 microplastic particles per kilogram — among the highest levels reported globally — with polystyrene and polyethylene fragments and fibers being the most common types. Based on typical salt consumption, Bangladeshis may ingest over 13,000 microplastic particles per year through salt alone, raising public health concerns.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.