Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

Nanoplastics Detected in Commercial Sea Salt

Researchers detected nanoplastic particles in commercial sea salt samples using advanced analytical techniques, demonstrating that a widely consumed everyday food product is contaminated with plastic nanoparticles derived from ocean and atmospheric pollution. The findings raise concerns about dietary nanoplastic exposure for people of all ages through routine salt consumption.

2022
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

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

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 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 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

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

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
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Identification and quantification of common microplastics in table salts by a multi-technique-based analytical method

Researchers developed a multi-technique analytical method combining microscope-FTIR and pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify and quantify microplastics in table salts, providing 3D information on polymer type, morphology, and chemical composition of food-grade salt contaminants.

2022 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 26 citations
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
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

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

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

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