Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Emerging Microplastic Contamination in the Food Industry: the Case of Commercial Table Salts in Iligan, Philippines

Commercial table salts from markets in Iligan City, Philippines were analyzed for microplastic contamination, contributing to limited data from the country on this food safety issue. The study characterized microplastic types, shapes, colors, and sizes across multiple salt brands using density separation and microscopy.

2024 The Philippine journal of science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in salts from India And Sri Lanka

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in commonly available salts from India and Sri Lanka, including sea salt, rock salt, and refined table salt. Microplastics were detected across most salt varieties, indicating that this staple condiment is a dietary route of human microplastic exposure in South Asia.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk assessment of microplastic in commercial salt sold in Malaysia

Researchers conducted a risk assessment of microplastics in commercial table salt sold in Malaysia, finding that contaminated seawater used during sea salt production introduces microplastics into a widely consumed daily food ingredient with potential adverse health effects.

2023 UiTM Institutional Repositories (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastic contamination in table salts in Padang City, Indonesia, and control strategies for choosing healthy salt

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in ten brands of table salt commonly consumed in Padang, Indonesia. The study found microplastic particles in all brands tested, ranging from 30 to 510 particles per kilogram, with fragments being the most common shape, suggesting that salt products represent a meaningful source of dietary microplastic exposure.

2023 International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Spanish Table Salt

This study analyzed samples of commercially sold Spanish table salt and found microplastics in some products, adding to a growing body of evidence that sea-derived food products are contaminated with plastic particles. The results underscore the difficulty of avoiding microplastic exposure in everyday foods.

2017 Scientific Reports 382 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination of table salts from Taiwan, including a global review

Researchers analyzed table salt products sold in Taiwan for microplastic contamination and detected an average of nearly 10 microplastic particles per kilogram of salt. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the most commonly identified polymer types. The study includes a global comparison showing that microplastic contamination of table salt is a widespread phenomenon, representing a consistent low-level dietary exposure pathway for consumers.

2019 Scientific Reports 203 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination of table salts from Turkey with microplastics

Sixteen brands of table salt sold in Turkish markets — including sea, lake, and rock salts — were found to contain microplastics, with the highest concentrations in sea salt. The study adds to global evidence of microplastic contamination in commercially sold salt and indicates widespread human dietary exposure through this common food ingredient.

2018 Food Additives & Contaminants Part A 266 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection and Characterization of Microplastics in Commercial Salts in India

Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in commercial salts available in India, including rock salt, sea salt, and table salt varieties. The study found widespread microplastic contamination across salt types, raising food safety concerns given the ubiquity of salt as a dietary staple.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Consuming microplastics? Investigation of commercial salts as a source of microplastics (MPs) in diet

Researchers analyzed various commercial Australian salts, including both marine and terrestrial varieties, for microplastic contamination. The study detected microplastics in all salt samples tested, including the first detection in black salt, indicating that commercial table salt is a potential dietary source of microplastic exposure for humans.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination of table salts from Turkey with microplastics Part A Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment

This study analyzed 16 brands of table salt from Turkish markets and found microplastics in most samples, with concentration varying by salt type and source. The findings add to growing global evidence that microplastics have entered the human food chain through commercial sea and lake salt.

2018 Food Additives and Contaminants Part A-chemistry Analysis Control Exposure & Risk Assessment
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in commercial sea salt of Vietnam

Microplastics were found in 100% of sea salt samples from Vietnam, with raw salt containing more than twice the contamination of refined table salt. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that table salt—a dietary staple—is a source of human microplastic ingestion worldwide.

2021 Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology/Science and Technology 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in selected staple consumer food products

Researchers in the Philippines found microplastics in common staple foods including sea salt, sugar, rice, and fish sauce, with sea salt having the highest contamination at about 471 particles per kilogram. PVC from processing equipment and PET from plastic packaging were the most common types found. This study provides direct evidence that people are consuming microplastics through everyday foods, raising questions about the safety of plastic materials used in food manufacturing and packaging.

2024 Journal of Food Science and Technology 16 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Microplastic contamination of salt intended for human consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined microplastic contamination in table salt from around the world. It found that microplastics are present in most salt products intended for human consumption, with sea salt generally containing more particles than rock or lake salt, representing a consistent source of dietary microplastic exposure.

2020 SN Applied Sciences 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Table Salts from China

Researchers analyzed table salts produced in China and found microplastics contaminating samples from multiple salt types, suggesting that salt production processes and source water quality influence the extent of microplastic contamination in a common food ingredient.

2015 Environmental Science & Technology 1056 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Indonesian consumable salts

Researchers analyzed both traditionally produced and commercial branded sea salts from Indonesia and found microplastics in all samples tested. Traditionally produced salts contained the highest contamination levels, with up to 3,753 particles per kilogram, though branded salts also contained significant amounts. The study indicates that sea salt is a notable dietary source of microplastic exposure for consumers.

2024 Journal of Sea Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of salt intended for human consumption for the presence of physical contaminants: microplastics an emerging contaminant in the food area

Researchers analyzed eight salt samples sold in Rio de Janeiro supermarkets and found physical contaminants consistent with microplastics in five of them, suggesting oceanic microplastic contamination is reaching consumers through table salt and underscoring the need for food quality monitoring programs.

2023 Brazilian Journal of Health Review 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microparticles in Table Salt: Levels and Chemical Composition of the Smallest Dimensional Fraction

Analysis of commercially available table salts found microplastic particles and non-synthetic micro-particles in multiple brands, with the smallest size fractions being most abundant and most difficult to identify. The study raises concerns about human dietary exposure to microplastics through a universally consumed food product.

2019 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of the presence of insoluble particles and microplastics in sea salts in Brazil

Researchers analyzed sea salts from Brazilian markets for the presence of microplastics and other insoluble particles. The detection of microplastics in commercially sold sea salt raises consumer exposure concerns, as salt is used universally in cooking and food processing.

2019 Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo)
Article Tier 2

“Microplastic seasoning”: A study on microplastic contamination of sea salts in Bangladesh

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.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Table Salt: A Study of Consumer Behavior in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in table salt from Bangladesh and found that locally refined salt contained an average of 12 to 23 particles per kilogram, while commercial brands showed no detectable contamination due to more thorough refining processes. The study also explored consumer behavior and found that 71% of local salt users believed it was healthier than branded salt, despite the contamination risk. The findings highlight the need for better quality control and consumer education around microplastic exposure through everyday food products.

2024 Applied Environmental Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastics in edible salts from solar saltpans and commercial salts

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in sea salts from solar salt pans in Tamil Nadu, India, and several commercial salt brands. The study confirmed the presence of microplastics in all salt pan samples and two commercial salt brands, with fewer than 350 polymer fragments per sample representing multiple polymer types. These findings suggest that sea salt production is a pathway for microplastic contamination to reach human diets.

2023 Total Environment Research Themes 21 citations
Article Tier 2

From sea to table: Assessing microplastic contamination in local and non-local salt in Bali, Indonesia

All 20 brands of table salt tested in Bali, Indonesia contained microplastics, with an average of 173 particles per kilogram. Based on typical salt consumption, residents ingest roughly one microplastic particle per day from salt alone, highlighting how everyday foods serve as a constant low-level source of microplastic exposure.

2025 Chemosphere 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in edible sea salt from the largest salt-producing states of India

Microplastics were found in edible sea salt samples from the major salt-producing states of India, with crystal salt containing lower concentrations than powdered salt, and fibers and fragments as the dominant types, confirming that sea salt is a source of human dietary microplastic exposure in South Asia.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Incidence and exposure to microplastics in table salt present in the Iran market

Scientists tested 40 brands of table salt sold in Iran and found microplastics in every single sample, with sea salt containing the highest levels. The estimated daily intake from salt alone was up to 174 microplastic particles per person. This adds to growing evidence that table salt is a consistent dietary source of microplastic exposure for people worldwide.

2023 Toxicology Reports 36 citations