Image Source: business-standard.com
A recent study by the environmental research group Toxics Link has revealed that all brands of salt and sugar in India, regardless of size or packaging, contain microplastics. The study, titled “Microplastics in Salt and Sugar,” examined various types of salt, including table, rock, sea, and local raw salt, as well as five varieties of sugar sourced both online and locally.
Microplastics were found in all samples, appearing in forms such as fibers, pellets, films, and fragments ranging from 0.1 mm to 5 mm in size. Iodised salt had the highest concentration of microplastics, predominantly consisting of multi-colored fibers and films.
Ravi Agarwal, founder-director of Toxics Link, highlighted that the study aims to contribute to the scientific understanding of microplastics and influence the global plastic treaty’s strategy to address this widespread issue. The study also seeks to prompt policy action and emphasize the need for technological solutions to reduce exposure risks.
Satish Sinha, associate director at Toxics Link, expressed concern about the findings and stressed the need for further research on the long-term health impacts of microplastics. The study showed significant variation in microplastic content among salt samples, with iodised salt containing the highest level at 89.15 pieces per kilogram, while organic rock salt had the lowest at 6.70 pieces per kilogram.
Sugar samples also exhibited notable microplastic contamination, with concentrations ranging from 11.85 to 68.25 pieces per kilogram, with non-organic sugar showing the highest levels.
Microplastics are known to enter the human body through food, water, and air and have been detected in critical organs and tissues, including the lungs, heart, breast milk, and even unborn babies.
Previous research suggests that the average Indian consumes significantly more salt and sugar daily than recommended by the WHO, potentially increasing health risks associated with microplastic exposure.
