We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Analysis of the effect of salt processing on microplastic residues in crushed and washed sea salt
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined how standard sea salt processing — crushing and washing crude sea salt — affects the level of microplastic contamination. The processing removed between 56% and 98% of microplastic particles present in crude salt, reducing counts from around 256 particles per 10 g to as low as 6 particles per 10 g. The findings are reassuring for food safety but confirm that microplastics from marine pollution do enter the salt production chain and that processing steps matter for final contamination levels.
This study focused on issues related to sea salt processing caused by marine microplastic pollution and investigated the effect of crushed and washed sea salt (CWSS) processing on microplastics (MPs) residues for the first time. Thirteen MPs contaminants were identified in the crude salts derived from seawater crystallization, with relative abundance of 256 ± 26 particles/10 g detected. After CWSS processing there were a total of 6 ± 5–112 ± 30 particles/10 g abundance in the final product. The results confirmed that the CWSS process had a significant impact on the abundance distribution of MPs in sea salt (p-value = 0.00147 < 0.01), and CWSS processing removed between 56.25% and 97.66% of microplastic particles from the crude material. The most prominent MP contaminants in both crude salt and commercial salt were PA (polyamide) and PU (polyurethane). It was found that PP (polypropylene) was mainly introduced during CWSS processing, in particular when packaging the salt. In addition, There was no significant difference for CWSS processing in the MPs removal between 0 and 140 μm (p-value = 0.098 > 0.05).
More Papers Like This
Preliminary investigation of microplastics in the production process of sea salt sourced from the Bohai Sea, China, using an optimised and consistent approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tracked microplastic contamination through each stage of sea salt production in China, from seawater to refined salt. Microplastics were present throughout the process, with concentrations decreasing at later stages, but not eliminated entirely—highlighting table salt as a pathway for human microplastic ingestion.
Mechanistic Analysis of Microplastic Incorporation during Supersaturation-Driven NaCl Crystallization
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that filtering seawater before turning it into salt removes over 97% of microplastics, and by carefully controlling how the salt crystals form (like slowing down the cooling process), they can further reduce how much plastic gets trapped inside. This matters because table salt is a known source of microplastic exposure in our diets, and this research points to practical ways salt producers could make their products cleaner without major changes to how salt is made.
Mechanistic Analysisof Microplastic Incorporationduring Supersaturation-Driven NaCl Crystallization
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles get trapped inside salt crystals during the salt-making process, and the conditions used—like how concentrated the saltwater is and how fast it cools—directly affect how much plastic ends up in your table salt. The good news: filtering the saltwater before crystallization removed over 97% of microplastics, suggesting salt producers could use this method to make cleaner, safer salt for consumers.
Microplastic pollution threat in table salt that an abiotic sea product
AI summary Read the abstract
This Turkish study investigates microplastic contamination in commercially sold table salt, finding plastic particles in sea salt products. Table salt is consumed daily, and microplastic contamination in this product represents a potential route for regular human dietary exposure.
Microplastic Contamination in Common Salt from Seawater
AI summary Read the abstract
This book chapter examines microplastic contamination of sea salt produced from evaporation of seawater, reviewing evidence that salt from multiple countries contains MPs and discussing the human dietary exposure implications of consuming salt with plastic particle contaminants.
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.