Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Data_Sheet_1_Investigating the Correlation of Microplastic Pollution Between Seawater and Marine Salt Using Micro-Raman Spectroscopy.docx

This dataset accompanies a study using micro-Raman spectroscopy to detect and compare microplastic contamination in seawater and sea salt from Vietnamese coastal salt pans. The data reveals a correlation between microplastic levels in seawater and in harvested sea salt, providing direct evidence that salt production can concentrate microplastics from surrounding waters into a food product.

2021 Figshare
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

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

Detection of submicron- and nanoplastics spiked in environmental fresh- and saltwater with Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was evaluated for detecting submicron- and nanoplastic particles spiked into both fresh and saltwater samples, assessing the method's sensitivity and reliability across a range of polymer types in complex environmental matrices.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 5 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

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

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
Article Tier 2

Study on Rapid Recognition of Marine Microplastics Based on Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers developed a rapid identification system for marine microplastics using Raman spectroscopy, enabling quick determination of plastic type and size. Fast, accurate identification tools are critical for monitoring the growing problem of microplastic pollution in ocean environments.

2021 Knowledge Repository of Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research) 9 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

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

The Raman Spectroscopy Approach to Different Freshwater Microplastics and Quantitative Characterization of Polyethylene Aged in the Environment

Researchers used Raman spectroscopy to identify and characterize microplastics from multiple freshwater sites feeding the Baltic Sea, finding polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and polystyrene as the most common polymer types. The study also demonstrated that Raman spectra can provide quantitative information on the crystallinity and density of aged polyethylene, enabling assessment of environmental weathering.

2022 Microplastics 34 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

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

Determination of particle abrasion through milling with five different salt grinders – a preliminary study by micro-Raman spectroscopy with efforts towards improved quality control of the analytical methods

Researchers used micro-Raman spectroscopy to measure whether plastic and ceramic grinding burrs in salt mills shed microplastic particles into the salt during milling. Plastic burr mills released significantly more microplastic particles than ceramic ones, confirming that everyday food processing equipment can be a source of microplastic contamination in what we eat.

2020 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Determination of particle abrasion through milling with five different salt grinders – a preliminary study by micro-Raman spectroscopy with efforts towards improved quality control of the analytical methods

Researchers used micro-Raman spectroscopy to measure whether plastic and ceramic grinding burrs in salt mills shed microplastic particles into the salt during milling. Plastic burr mills released significantly more microplastic particles than ceramic ones, confirming that everyday food processing equipment can be a source of microplastic contamination in what we eat.

2020 Figshare
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

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

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

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