As pollution has increased due to the large use of single-use plastic, salts have been containing more plastic than ever before.

Recently, three universities of Tamil Nadu along with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa, studied salt samples from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Both states are major producers of edible salt and depend on the sea to make it.

Microplastics are tiny particles, as minute as 100-200 micrometres, which shred away from single-use or general plastic items. These items include packaging material, cutlery, paints used for roads, polyester textiles, beads, fishing nets, tools, and cosmetics.

The total microplastic content ranged from 46-115 particles per 200g in Gujarat salt samples, according to the researchers. In Tamil Nadu’s case, it ranged from 23-101 particles per 200g. Since this is emerging research, no reference limits are available to work out the permissible levels.

The most common microplastics identified in edible salt were polyethylene, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride.

Assistant professor A Vidyasakar of the geology department of Tamil Nadu’s Periyar University said, “The sources of the microplastic fibers may be processing and packaging units of salt-producing companies.” Airborne particles could be another source, he said.

According to Vidyasakar, 74.3% of the total microplastics found in the study were red-and-blue fibrous materials. “We want the states that produce and package salt to recognize microplastics as a problem,” Vidyasakar said. “We want the states to improve their refining processes.”

Another researcher, assistant professor S Krishna Kumar of the geology department of Tamil Nadu’s Malankara Catholic College, said, “Our team carried out a baseline study on the presence of the particles in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu samples.” Kumar added, “We are yet to investigate their effects on our bodies.” It will take a decade before the detrimental consequences are fully known, he said.

“But first we have to recognize the presence of microplastics,” Kumar said.

Other researchers were K Suresh Kumar, P Saravanan, and K Kasilingam of the University of Madras; and K Neelavannan, S Anbalagan, and S Srinivasalu of the Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University.

The research team also included S Kamaraj of the biotechnology department of Periyar University; and N S Magesh of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research.

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

₹ 10 - ₹ 1000

NYOOOZ FRIEND

₹ 2000 - ₹ 5000

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.