Ahmedabad: Revelation that Microplastics lurks in the midst of eating salts that appear as an eye opener for the state government and salt producers.
Researchers who recorded the findings called for a better refining process to reduce micro salt.
Gujarat produces 76% of state salt.
Kharaghoda, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, and Rann Kutch are the main salt-producing centers.
Research studies, published in the Elsevier Marine pollution journal, have stated that solid microparticle pollutants separated from the sample, 90.3% are microplastic fractions and 9.7% are non-microplastic factions.
The study was conducted by a team consisting of 10 scientists including geologists, sea researchers, and TimesViewit biotechnics will take several decades of research before scientists agreed on significant health risks applied by microplastics consumption.
At that time, it would be too late.
Someone needs to improve the existing food processing method to ensure that fewer microplastics enter our food chains.
Our obsession with plastic is clearly polluting our seafood and sea salt with a microplastic.
It is time for the salt production industry and state government together to develop standards to purify salt, the basic elements of our food we cannot do without.
Polyethylene (78%) is the dominant micro pollutant, followed by polyester (19%).
The polyvinyl chloride content is also found.
“Salt packaging materials mainly consist of polyethylene.
Some large plastic fragments larger than 5mm are also observed in the sample,” said this study.
About 16.2% and 15% of the microparticles analyzed in the crystal salt package dropped in 500-1,000 micrometre and above the 1mm size range.
Microplastic micrometre 200-500 particles accounted for around 31.2% of total particles, and 100-200 micrometre particles produced 37.7% of the total.
“General micro particles include fiber, pellets, and films,” said this study.
This study involved Madras, Periyar, and Anna University; Malankara Catholic College; and the National Polar and Sea Research Center.
“[Findings] This study is that salt that can be eaten is dominated by fiber-shaped microplastic material,” the researchers said.
“Microplastic in salt mainly consists of polyethylene materials.” The researchers went on to say: “Polyethylene observed in salt is most likely to come from the salt-producing processing and packing unit, followed by microplastic particles in the air.”