Does Your Branded Salt And Sugar Contain Microplastics? Here's What A Recent Study Revealed

Associate Director of Toxics Link said: "Our study's finding is concerning and calls for urgent, comprehensive research into the long-term health impacts of microplastics on human health."

A study stated that all Indian salt and sugar brands contain microplastics.

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As increased exposure to miroplastics and nanoplastics continues to pose as a major global concern, impacting health and environment adversly, a recent study published on Tuesday has made some shocking revelations about the Indian salt and sugar brands. The study titled 'Microplastics in Salt and Sugar' conducted by the environmental research organisation Toxics Link stated that all Indian brands of salt and sugar, whether big or small, packaged or unpackaged, sold online or offline, contain microplastics.

The study involved testing 10 different types of salt and sugar sold in the country. These included table salt, rock salt, sea salt and local raw salt and five types of sugar, purchased from both online and local markets.

It also revealed that microplastics of sizes ranging from somewhere between 0.1 mm to 5 mm were present in all salt and sugar samples, in various forms, including fibre, films, fragments, and pellets.

However, out of the samples that were tested, the highest concentration levels of microplastics (89.15 pieces per kilogramme) were found in iodised salt, in the form of multi-coloured thin films and fibre.

According to the study, the lowest concentration of microplastics was found in organic rock salt (6.70 pieces per kilogramme). 

As per the report, the concentration of microplastics in the salt samples ranged from 6.71 to 89.15 pieces per kilogram of dry weight.

The sugar samples, on the other hand, consisted of microplastics with concentration ranging from 11.85 to 68.25 pieces per kilogramme. In terms of sugar, the highest concentration was found in non-organic sugar.

Study's Findings 'Concerning', Issue Must Be Addressed In 'Focused' Manner

Toxics Link founder-director Ravi Agarwal stated: "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. "

"We also aim to trigger policy action and attract researchers' attention to potential technological interventions that could reduce exposure risks to microplastics," he said.

Toxics Link associate director Satish Sinha added, "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."

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that can enter the human body through food, water, and air.

Another recent research found microplastics in human organs such as the heart, lungs, and even in breast milk and unborn babies.

Previous studies stated that on an average an Indian consumes 10.98 grams of salt and around 10 spoons of sugar every day, which is way higher than the recommended limits set by the World Health Organisation. One can only imagine the amount of microplastics present in an Indian's body given the high intake of sugar and salt here. 

(With inputs from news agency PTI)