Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The Effect of Geomembrane Plastic Usage on Microplastic and Heavy Metal Contamination in Salt Field

This study examined whether geomembrane plastic liners used in Indonesian salt production contribute to microplastic and heavy metal contamination in the finished salt product. The findings raise concerns about the safety of traditionally produced salt and unintended consequences of plastic use in food production.

2023 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The Existence, Characteristics, Sources, and Impact of Microplastics in Salt Products in Indonesia

This systematic literature review described the presence, characteristics, sources, and health impacts of microplastics in Indonesian salt products, finding consistent contamination across regions with PP, PE, and PA as dominant polymer types. The main contamination sources were polluted seawater used in salt production and unmanaged plastic waste near coastal evaporation ponds.

2025 Proceeding of International Seminar and Workshop on Public Health Action
Article Tier 2

Effect of plastic waste pollution in seawater to microplastic contamination in salt fields at Rembang

This study found microplastic particles in sea salt harvested from salt pans in Rembang, Indonesia, tracing their origin to plastic waste in the surrounding seawater. The findings add to growing evidence that microplastics contaminate table salt, representing a direct route of human dietary exposure to plastic particles.

2023 AIP conference proceedings 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in water, sediment and salts from traditional salt producing ponds

Researchers found microplastics in water, sediment, and sea salt collected from traditional salt evaporation ponds in Indonesia. The presence of plastic in harvested salt raises food safety concerns, as salt is a widely consumed condiment.

2019 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in salt pans from the Maheshkhali Channel, Bangladesh

Researchers analyzed sea salt samples from eight salt pans in the Maheshkhali Channel of Bangladesh and found microplastic contamination in every sample, with concentrations ranging from 78 to 137 particles per kilogram. Fragments were the most common type, and the dominant polymers identified were terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene. The findings highlight that sea salt represents a potentially significant route of human dietary exposure to microplastics.

2021 Scientific Reports 82 citations
Article Tier 2

The presence and characteristics of microplastics in local salt industry production in Muna Regency in 2025

Researchers analyzed salt samples from local producers in Muna Regency, Indonesia, and found microplastic contamination in all 12 samples tested. The particles were primarily polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers, with concentrations ranging from 0.008 to 0.04 mg/kg. The study suggests that contamination comes from both marine pollution in the source seawater and post-production processes such as transportation and packaging.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The presence and characteristics of microplastics in local salt industry production in Muna Regency in 2025

Researchers analyzed locally produced salt from Muna Regency, Indonesia, and found microplastic contamination in all 12 samples tested. The dominant polymer types were polyethylene and polypropylene in fragment and fiber forms, with contamination attributed to both marine pollution and post-production handling processes such as transportation and packaging.

2026 World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews
Article Tier 2

Contamination of Indian sea salts with microplastics and a potential prevention strategy

All eight brands of Indian sea salt tested were found to contain microplastics, with concentrations ranging widely across brands, and the study proposed using improved salt harvesting methods to reduce contamination. The findings add to global evidence of widespread microplastic contamination in commercially sold sea salt, with direct implications for human dietary exposure.

2018 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 175 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of various production methods on the microplastic contamination of sea salt produced in Java, Indonesia

Researchers compared microplastic contamination in sea salt produced by different methods — solar evaporation, boiling, and mechanical processing — in Java, Indonesia, finding that production method significantly affected MP levels, with open solar evaporation exposed to air contamination yielding the highest counts.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution from sea salt: its effect on public health and prevention alternatives - a review

This review examines microplastic contamination in sea salt from countries that export to Indonesia, summarizing polymer types, contamination levels, public health effects of ingested microplastics, and potential prevention strategies to reduce human salt-borne plastic exposure.

2020 E3S Web of Conferences 12 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

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

Microplastic presence in commercial marine sea salts: A baseline study along Tuticorin Coastal salt pan stations, Gulf of Mannar, South India

Twenty-five sea salt samples from Tuticorin coastal salt pans in India were analyzed for microplastics, with particles under 100 μm comprising 60% of contaminants and polypropylene and polyethylene as the dominant polymers. The study establishes a baseline for microplastic contamination in commercially harvested sea salt from South India.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 117 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of Microdebris in Traditional Salts Processes from Sea Water in Woha-West Nusa Tenggara and Takalar Lama-South Sulawesi

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.

2023 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Global Pattern of Microplastics (MPs) in Commercial Food-Grade Salts: Sea Salt as an Indicator of Seawater MP Pollution

A global analysis of commercial sea salts found microplastics in samples from 21 countries, with the highest concentrations in sea salts from Asia and the lowest in rock and lake salts. The findings suggest that sea salt can serve as an indicator of seawater microplastic pollution levels in surrounding regions.

2018 Environmental Science & Technology 387 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

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

Preliminary investigation of microplastics in the production process of sea salt sourced from the Bohai Sea, China, using an optimised and consistent approach

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.

2021 Food Additives & Contaminants Part A 10 citations
Article Tier 2

The presence and characteristics of microplastics in local salt industry production in Muna Regency in 2025

Researchers analyzed salt samples from local producers in Muna Regency, Indonesia, and found microplastic contamination in all 12 samples tested. The particles were primarily polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers, with concentrations averaging 0.019 mg/kg. The study indicates that marine pollution and post-production handling both contribute to microplastic presence in locally produced salt.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

From Sea Water to Salt Crystals: An Onsite Investigation of Microplastics in a Conventional Sea Salt Farming System

Researchers conducted on-site sampling of sea salt crystals and traced microplastic contamination at multiple stages from seawater through to the final salt product. Microplastics were detected throughout the production chain, highlighting potential dietary exposure from table salt.

2024 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Differences in Microplastic Content in Commercial Salt and Salt at the Semiringkai Coastal Local Center in Kupang City and Kupang Regency

Researchers compared microplastic content between commercial salt and locally produced salt from the Semiringkai coastal area in Kupang City and Kupang Regency, Indonesia, finding that both sources contained microplastics with average concentrations that were not statistically significantly different from each other.

2023 Indian Journal of Community Medicine 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Common Salt from Seawater

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.

2025
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Salt of Tuticorin, Southeast Coast of India

Researchers extracted and characterized microplastics from 14 brands of food-grade sea salts and bore-well salts from Tuticorin, India, finding contamination in both salt types with fibers and fragments as dominant forms and polyethylene as the most common polymer.

2020 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 114 citations
Article Tier 2

High levels of microplastics in commercial salt and industrial salterns in Sri Lanka

All commercial salt products tested in Sri Lanka were contaminated with microplastics, with concentrations ranging from 11 to 193 items/kg in commercial salts and up to 253 items/kg in lab-grade NaCl, and significant variation between three analyzed saltern sites.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 77 citations