Your salt and sugar packets contain harmful microplastics: Iodised salt has the highest, rock salt lowest, study finds

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

salt and sugar brands, whether packaged or unpackaged, contain microplastics, according to a study published by Toxics Link, an environmental research organization. The study, titled "Microplastics in Salt and Sugar," examined 10 types of salt and five types of sugar sourced from online and local markets. The findings reveal a pervasive presence of microplastics across all samples tested, a PTI report stated.

Microplastics Detected in All Sugar, Salt Brands Samples

The study identified various forms of microplastics, including fibres, pellets, films, and fragments, in all salt and sugar samples. The size of these microplastics ranged from 0.1 mm to 5 mm. Iodised salt was found to have the highest concentration of microplastics, particularly in the form of multi-coloured thin fibres and films.

Ravi Agarwal, founder-director of Toxics Link, told PTI, «The objective of our study was to contribute to the existing scientific database on microplastics so that the global plastic treaty can address this issue in a concrete and focused manner.» He emphasized the need for policy action and research on technological interventions to reduce microplastic exposure risks.

Satish Sinha, associate director of Toxics Link, highlighted the urgency of addressing the issue, saying, «Our study's finding of substantial amounts of microplastics in all salt and sugar samples is concerning and calls for urgent, comprehensive research into the long-term health impacts of microplastics on human health.»

Findings on Microplastic