Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

Microplastic contamination in table salt sold in the selected local markets inSamar, Philippines

Researchers tested for microplastic contamination in commercial table salt sold in local markets in Samar, Philippines, a seafood-dependent region where marine microplastic contamination is a direct food safety concern. Microplastics were detected in salt samples, confirming that this widely consumed condiment is a pathway for human microplastic ingestion in Philippine communities.

2024 Food Research 1 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

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

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

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 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

“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

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

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 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
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 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

Microplastics in Table Salts: Sources, Abundance, Types, and Consumption– A Review

This global review synthesizes research on microplastic contamination in table salts, examining sources, abundance, particle types, and estimated human consumption, finding that sea salts tend to have higher microplastic loads than rock or lake salts.

2025 Pakistan Journal of Analytical & Environmental Chemistry
Article Tier 2

The presence of microplastics in commercial salts from different countries

Researchers analyzed 17 commercial salt brands from eight countries and found microplastic particles in all but one, with concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 particles per kilogram. The most common plastics were polypropylene and polyethylene, appearing mainly as fragments. While the estimated human intake from salt alone appears minimal, the study confirms that microplastics have infiltrated yet another everyday food product.

2017 Scientific Reports 623 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in commercial salt for human consumption: A review

This review examines microplastic contamination in commercial table salt from 128 brands across 38 countries on five continents. Researchers found that while microplastic concentrations in salt are lower than in some other food products like mussels, salt represents a significant long-term daily exposure route for the general population. The study highlights that commercial salt contaminated with microplastics may contribute to cumulative human exposure alongside other dietary and environmental sources.

2019 Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 316 citations
Article Tier 2

First-ever study uncovers microplastic contamination in Nepalese table salt

In the first study of its kind in Nepal, researchers found microplastics in 100% of table salt samples tested from across the country, with levels ranging from 80 to 1,040 particles per kilogram. The most common shapes were fibers and films made of polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon. Since salt is consumed daily by nearly everyone, this represents a consistent source of microplastic ingestion for the Nepalese population.

2024 Heliyon 11 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

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

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

Quantifying ecological risks of aquatic micro- and nanoplastic

This study analyzed microplastic contamination in table salts from multiple countries and found plastic particles present in the vast majority of samples tested. Sea salt contained the highest levels of microplastics compared to rock and lake salts, reflecting the extent of marine plastic pollution. The findings suggest that table salt is a previously underappreciated pathway for human microplastic ingestion, with estimated annual intake varying by geographic region.

2018 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 531 citations