Microplastic contamination in edible sea salt from the largest salt-producing states of India

Unrestrained utilization of plastic has reached an intemperate state, menacing environment and human lives. The preliminary focus of this research was to investigate and divulge the contemporary status of microplastics (MPs) in commercialized and open pan salts from Cox's Bazar and Maheshkhali channels. A total of 27 samples were obtained. The samples were analyzed for the prevalence of MPs by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy (RS); the prevailing amount, color, size, and shapes were analyzed by stereomicroscope and SEM. The abundance of high‐density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) were detected by FTIR, meanwhile exuberance of cellulose acetate, polypropylene, PET, LDPE, and Nylon 6 were identified by RS. The average quantifications of MPs in Cox's Bazar, Maheshkhali, and packaged salts were found to be 6851.11 ± 538.18, 5638.89 ± 1001.18, and 3405.56 ± 638.57 per kg, respectively. ANOVA resulted in highly significant association between MPs and sampling sites (p = .001*). Post hoc Tukey's test revealed prominent link between commercialized and open pan salts based on the amount of MPs (p = .001*). The most prevalent colors were purple (28%) and blue (27%). The most frequent shapes were fibrous (79%) and fragmented (19.9%) MPs. The smallest MP was detected in commercial salt (1.55 μm), nearly identical and closer to the size of nanoplastics.

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“…The Tamil Nadu (Vidyasakar et al, 2021), 13.2 ± 6 MPs/50 g in China (Li et al, 2020), 50-280 MPs/kg in Spanish salt (Iñiguez et al, 2017)).…”

Section: Factors Affecting Abundance Of Mps In Different Sampling Zonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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)

Mazumder

Quader

Saha

et al. 2023

Food Science & Nutrition

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“…MNPs are present not only in food but also in food spices like salt, sugar, and honey ( Table 1 ) [ 14 , 65 , 66 ]. MNPs are commonly found in different types of salt, including sea salt, rock salt, and lake salt, with an abundance range from 0 to 39.8 particles/g and predominantly presenting a fibrous and fragmented shape [ 67 , 68 ].…”

Section: Pathways Of Exposure Of Mnps To Humansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plastic waste that enters the environment includes primary micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs), such as those added to personal care and cosmetic products [ 3 ], as well as secondary MNPs produced by the fragmentation of larger plastics through physical, chemical, and biological processes [ 4 ]. MNPs are ubiquitous in the global biosphere and can be found in oceans [ 5 ], lakes [ 6 ], rivers [ 7 ], indoor air [ 8 ], outdoor air [ 9 ], and soil [ 10 ], as well as in seafood [ 11 ], drinking water [ 12 ], beverages [ 13 ], and salt [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review of the impacts of exposure to micro- and nano-plastics on human tissue accumulation and health

Feng,

Tu,

et al. 2023

Eco-Environment & Health

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“…Widely distributed in the environment, MPs or NPs enter the mammalian body through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, respiratory tract, and dermal system. For the GI tract, MPs have been found to accumulate in marine fish, shellfish (Barboza et al, 2018), and salt (Vidyasakar et al, 2021). Foods with MPs accumulations could enter the body through the food chain (Waring et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reproductive and transgenerational toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics: A threat to mammalian fertility in both sexes

Yin

2023

J of Applied Toxicology

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Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are extensively distributed in the environment. However, a comprehensive review and in‐depth discussion on the effects of MPs and NPs to reproductive capacity and transgenerational toxicity on mammals, especially on humans, is lacked. It is suggested that microplastics and nanoplastics could accumulate in mammalian reproductive organs and exert toxic effects on the reproductive system for both sexes. For males, the damage of microplastics consists of abnormal testicular and sperm structure, decreased sperm vitality, and endocrine disruption, which were caused by oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis of testicular cells, autophagy, abnormal cytoskeleton, and abnormal hypothalamic‐pituitary‐testicular axis. For females, the damage of microplastics includes abnormal ovary and uterus structure and endocrine disruption, which were caused by oxidative stress, inflammation, granulosa cell apoptosis, hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovary axis abnormalities, and tissue fibrosis. For transgenerational toxicity, premature mortality existed in the rodent offspring after maternal exposure to microplastics. Among the surviving offspring, metabolic disorders, reproductive dysfunction, immune, neurodevelopmental, and cognitive disorders were detected, and these events directly correlated with transgenerational translocation of MPs and NPs. Studies on human‐derived cells or organoids demonstrated that transgenerational toxicity studies for both sexes are yet in the phase of exploring suitable experimental models, and more detailed research on the threat of MPs and NPs to human fertility is still urgently needed. Further studies will help assess the MPs and NPs threat to public fertility and reproductive health risks.

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Microplastic contamination in edible sea salt from the largest salt-producing states of India

Cited by 35 publications

References 30 publications

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)

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)

A systematic review of the impacts of exposure to micro- and nano-plastics on human tissue accumulation and health

The reproductive and transgenerational toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics: A threat to mammalian fertility in both sexes

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