Microplastics are being found even in branded Sugar and salt in India
Microplastic particles have been found in all Indian open and packaged brands of salt and sugar. Such information has come out in a research paper published on August 19, 2924.
In this regard, the report of the Indian Express said that the study published under the title “Microplastics in salt and sugar” was conducted by a research organization called “Toxics Link“.
In this case, the research team tested at least 10 types of salt available in the Indian market—common salt, rock salt, sea salt and open salt. And they experimented with 5 types of sugar collected from online and local markets.
The Toxics Link study found that microplastic particles were present in all of the salt and sugar tested. These microplastic materials were present in the form of fibers, pellets, films and fragments in the tested salt and sugar. The size of the plastic particles ranges from zero millimeter to 5 millimeters.
According to the report, the highest amount of plastic particles was found in iodized salts. The salts contained plastic particles in the form of thin fibers of various colors.
Ravi Agarwal, founder and director of Toxics Link, said, “Our research was intended to contribute to the existing scientific database of microplastics, so that the Global Plastics Agreement can address this issue in a sustainable manner.”
“Our study found substantial amounts of microplastics in all salt and sugar samples and calls for urgent and comprehensive research into the long-term health effects of microplastics on human health,” said Satish Sinha, associate director of Toxics Link.
According to the report, the concentration of microplastics in salt samples ranged from 6.71 to 89.15 pieces per kilogram. On the other hand, the concentration of microplastics in sugar samples ranged from 11.85 to 68.25 pieces per kilogram.
Microplastics are now a growing concern around the world. Because these plastics can harm both health and the environment. These tiny particles of plastic can enter the human body through food, water and air.
Recent studies have found microplastics in the lungs, heart, and even breast milk and organs of unborn babies.
