Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Identification and quantification of microplastics in salts by complementary approaches using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (Py-GC/QTOFMS) and laser direct infrared (LDIR) chemical imaging analysis

Researchers used complementary analytical approaches, including pyrolysis-gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and laser direct infrared imaging, to identify and quantify microplastics in table salt. The study provides improved mass concentration data for different polymer types and sizes of plastic particles contaminating salt products worldwide.

2024 Environmental Pollution 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of microplastics in different salts from Iran

Researchers analyzed microplastic concentrations in fifteen samples of crystallized, refined sea, unrefined sea, and rock salts from Iranian markets using scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy, finding microplastic contamination across all salt types with concentrations varying by processing method.

2021 International Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastics in table salt by FT-IR microscopy

This Japanese-language study used FT-IR microscopy to detect microplastics in three brands of Japanese sea salt, finding polypropylene and polyethylene particles above 20 micrometers in all samples. The study demonstrates that sea salt produced from different coastal regions already contains microplastics, representing a direct dietary exposure pathway.

2023 Nippon Shokuhin Kagaku Kogaku Kaishi 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and quantification of microplastics in table sea salts using micro-NIR imaging methods

Near-infrared imaging was used to detect and count microplastics in table sea salt samples, providing a faster and more accurate method than visual sorting. Sea salt is a well-documented source of human microplastic ingestion, and better detection methods help quantify this exposure.

2018 Analytical Methods 42 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

An investigation on the prevalence of microplastic in commercial and open pan salts obtained from Cox's Bazar and Maheshkhali region of Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh)

Researchers found microplastics in all commercial and open pan salt samples from the Cox's Bazar and Maheshkhali regions of Bangladesh, identifying polyethylene, PET, and other polymers through FTIR and Raman spectroscopy analysis.

2023 Food Science & Nutrition 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Correlation of Microplastic Pollution Between Seawater and Marine Salt Using Micro-Raman Spectroscopy

Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the correlation between microplastic contamination in seawater and marine salt from the same source waters, finding that the polymer profiles of microplastics in salt broadly reflect those in the seawater from which the salt was produced.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastic in Sun-Dried Salt using Spectroscopic Technique

Researchers used spectroscopic techniques to detect microplastics in sun-dried sea salt from South Korea. Microplastics were found in the salt samples, confirming that sea salt produced from ocean water is a pathway through which humans can ingest plastic particles through everyday food consumption.

2020 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in salt: A critical review of contamination, analytical methodologies, and health implications

This critical review examined microplastic contamination in salt products worldwide, covering analytical methods, polymer types, and potential health implications. Researchers found that polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET are the most commonly identified polymers in salt, with fibers being the dominant form, and emphasized the need for standardized detection protocols to enable meaningful comparisons across studies.

2025 Journal of Chromatography Open 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A comprehensive pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis for the assessment of microplastics in various salts

Scientists measured microplastic contamination in different types of edible salt using advanced chemical analysis and found that sea salt contained the most microplastics, roughly 17 times more than rock salt. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET made up the vast majority of particles found, and some contamination came from the salt packaging itself. Based on average salt consumption, a person using sea salt could be exposed to over 2,300 micrograms of microplastics per year through salt alone.

2024 Food Chemistry 14 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

Promising techniques and open challenges for microplastic identification and quantification in environmental matrices

This review assessed current and emerging techniques for microplastic identification and quantification in environmental matrices, highlighting advantages and limitations of methods including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-GC/MS.

2019 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 232 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection methods of micro and nanoplastics

This review surveyed current detection methods for micro- and nanoplastics across environmental and food matrices, comparing techniques like FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry for identifying these emerging contaminants.

2023 Advances in food and nutrition research 12 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

Detection and Characterisation of Microplastics in Food Grade Salts in India

Researchers analyzed 30 brands of food-grade salt available in India and found microplastics in all samples, with sea salt containing 13 to 27 particles per 100 grams and rock salt containing 8 to 29 particles per 100 grams. Particle sizes ranged from about 19 to 1,433 micrometers, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was the most commonly identified polymer. The study suggests that salt is a routine dietary source of microplastic exposure for consumers.

2026 Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU
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

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 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

Litter & microplastics features in table salts from marine origin: Italian versus Croatian brands

Researchers analyzed microplastic content in marine-origin table salts from Italian and Croatian commercial brands, finding microplastic contamination in all tested products with no macroplastic or mesoplastic particles recovered, and characterizing the size, shape, and polymer types present.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 156 citations
Review Tier 2

Variation and Uncertainty of Microplastics in Commercial Table Salts: Critical Review and Validation

A critical review of microplastic data from commercial table salts across many studies found high variability driven by inconsistent analytical methods, and validation experiments revealed that size cutoffs and detection methods significantly affect reported contamination levels.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 72 citations