A recent study by Toxics Link, an environmental research organization, has uncovered a disturbing trend in Indian salt and sugar products, the presence of microplastics in every brand tested. This discovery raises serious questions about the long-term health implications of these tiny plastic particles, which were found in varying forms such as fibers, pellets, films, and fragments.
Study Across Salt and Sugar Varieties
The study, titled “Microplastics in Salt and Sugar” involved testing ten different types of salt, including table salt, rock salt, sea salt, and local raw salt, along with five types of sugar, all sourced from both online and local markets. The results were alarming, revealing microplastics in all the samples, with sizes ranging from 0.1 mm to 5 mm.
Iodised salt has 89.15 pieces per kilogram of microplastics
One of the most concerning findings was the high concentration of microplastics in iodised salt, where thin, multi-colored fibers and films were particularly prevalent. The concentration in these samples ranged from 6.71 to 89.15 pieces per kilogram, with iodised salt topping the list at 89.15 pieces per kilogram. Organic rock salt, in contrast, had the lowest concentration of 6.70 pieces per kilogram.
Sugar Also Affected
Sugar samples also showed significant contamination, with concentrations of microplastics ranging from 11.85 to 68.25 pieces per kilogram. Non-organic sugar had the highest levels, underscoring the widespread nature of this issue.
Need for Urgent Action
The study’s authors have emphasized the urgent need for further research into the long-term health effects of microplastics. Ravi Agarwal, Founder-Director of Toxics Link, highlighted the importance of this research in contributing to global efforts to address plastic pollution. He called for policy action and technological interventions to reduce exposure to microplastics.
Satish Sinha, Associate Director at Toxics Link, echoed these concerns, stressing that the significant presence of microplastics in everyday food items like salt and sugar is a cause for immediate and comprehensive research.
Microplastics, which have already been found in human organs such as the lungs, heart, and even in breast milk, pose a growing threat to public health. These particles can enter the body through food, water, and air, and their potential impact on human health is still not fully understood.
Given that the average Indian consumes more salt and sugar daily than the World Health Organization’s recommended limits, the presence of microplastics in these staple foods is particularly troubling.
Source indianexpress
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