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Identification of Microdebris in Traditional Salts Processes from Sea Water in Woha-West Nusa Tenggara and Takalar Lama-South Sulawesi
Summary
This Indonesian study identified microdebris including microplastics in traditionally produced salt from two regions, finding contamination at multiple stages of the salt-making process. Microplastic contamination in table salt represents a direct route of human ingestion for people who consume salt produced from polluted coastal seawater.
Abstract The process of making traditional salt generally uses sea water sources. The marine environment is currently a global concern due to the presence of microplastic contamination. Meanwhile, microplastics were also identified in table salt. In this work, sampling was carried out on the process of making traditional salt in the areas of Takalar Lama - South Sulawesi and Woha - West Nusa Tenggara which are famous for traditional salt making. Samples were taken starting from sea water as a source, saturated sea water and coarse salt. The identification of microdebris in salt was carried out using the filtering and drying method. Samples were observed using a digital microscope and continued with an FTIR microscope for microdebris identification. The amount of microdebris during the salt processed was more than in seawater sources. In Takalar Lama, there is one microdebris in the seawater source, after processing with the geomembrane there are 17 microdebris and without the geomembrane process there are 17 microdebris each in the form of fragments and fibers. Whereas in Woha, the seawater source contained 1 microdebris and the final product contained 7 microdebris.