Maya Ellison
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, with plastic debris littering beaches, disrupting marine ecosystems, and infiltrating food chains. While the presence of microplastics in seafood has been well-documented, concerns have recently emerged about plastic contamination in sea salt. Studies have found microplastics in sea salt brands from various countries, raising questions about the potential health implications for consumers and the extent of plastic pollution in our environment. With plastic pollution pervading the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, addressing this issue is crucial to safeguard human health and ecosystems.
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What You'll Learn
Plastic in seafood
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pervasive issue, with microplastics finding their way into our food chains and, ultimately, our diets. Studies have found microplastics in seafood, sea salt, bottled water, beer, and honey, as well as the dust that settles on our meals.
Seafood lovers may be ingesting tens of thousands of microplastic fragments each year. Mollusks such as mussels, oysters, and scallops collected off the coasts of Asia have been found to contain the highest levels of microplastics among seafood. Fish and crustaceans such as shrimp and crab also contain plastic fragments. A study by the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland found plastic in every sample of seafood tested, including oysters, prawns, squid, crabs, and sardines. Sardines had the highest plastic content, which surprised researchers.
The health impact of ingesting plastic is unknown. Scientists have struggled to research the impact of plastic on the human body because they cannot find a control group of humans who have not been exposed. Animal and human cell research has shown that microplastics can have adverse effects. Researchers have calculated that the maximum amount of microplastics a human could ingest from seafood would be about 55,000 particles a year, while the annual maximum rises to 458,000 particles for tap water and 3,569,000 for bottled water.
The issue of plastic in seafood is a global one, with contaminated fish and shellfish found everywhere from Europe to Canada, Brazil, and mainland China. Demand for seafood is increasing, with per capita fish consumption rising from 10kg in the 1960s to more than 19kg in 2012, and seafood production increasing at a rate of 3.2%, twice the world population growth rate. As a result, our reliance on throwaway plastics is coming under scrutiny.
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Microplastics in salt from different countries
Microplastics have been found in sea salt from around the world, including Europe, the UK, France, Spain, China, the US, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
In one study, researchers analysed 16 brands of sea salt from eight countries and found microplastics in all but one. The researchers dissolved and filtered the salts to isolate any microplastic-like particles, which they then examined visually and with a spectroscopic technique to assess the chemical composition of the contaminants. They found a total of 72 particles of contaminants across the 15 contaminated brands, with each brand containing between one to 10 particles per kilogram.
Another study found microplastics in 90% of the 39 table salt brands sampled worldwide, with the highest quantities of microplastics found in salt sold in Indonesia. Asia was found to be a hotspot for plastic pollution, with Indonesia ranking as the country with the second-worst level of plastic pollution in an unrelated 2015 study.
The presence of microplastics in sea salt is concerning as it indicates that microplastics are entering the food chain and may be ingested by humans. While the health impact of ingesting microplastics is not yet known, detectable levels of the plastic bisphenol A have been found in the urine of 95% of the adult population of the United States.
The harvesting technique used to produce salt has been found to influence microplastic concentrations, with traditionally harvested salts containing fewer microplastics than industrially harvested ones.
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Health impact of ingesting plastic
The health impact of ingesting plastic is not yet fully understood. Scientists have struggled to research the impact of plastic ingestion on human health because there is no control group of humans who have not been exposed to plastic. However, detectable levels of the plastic bisphenol A have been found in the urine of 95% of the adult population of the United States.
Some researchers believe that sea salt could be more vulnerable to plastic contamination because of how it is made—through the dehydration of seawater. As a result, sea salt from all over the world has been found to be contaminated by plastic. Studies have shown that tiny particles of plastic have been found in sea salt in the UK, France, Spain, China, and the US.
One study estimates that an average person could be ingesting as many as 6 million nanoplastics per year through the consumption of sea salt alone. Nanoplastics may pose a greater health risk than microplastics because they are small enough to penetrate biological membranes. They have been detected in human lungs, blood, breast milk, placenta, and stool samples.
However, it is important to note that the hazardousness of ingesting microplastics has not yet been proven. More research is needed to fully understand the potential health effects of nanoplastic and microplastic exposure.
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Harvesting techniques and microplastic concentrations
Sea salt is produced by the evaporation of seawater. The ideal environment for sea salt production is where the evaporation rate exceeds the precipitation rate, with steady prevailing winds. The seawater is channelled into ponds and left to evaporate naturally. As the water evaporates and the salt concentrates, the water is moved along the chain of ponds closer to the harvesting facility. Once the salinity reaches about 25%, the salt starts to crystallize and can be harvested.
However, the process of dehydrating seawater to produce sea salt may be a reason why sea salt is vulnerable to plastic contamination. Studies have found microplastics in sea salt from various countries, including the US, UK, France, Spain, China, and Malaysia. The concentration of microplastics in sea salt varies, with one study finding a median of 466 ± 152 microplastics per kilogram in 13 European sea salt samples. Another study found microplastic contamination in 15 out of 16 sea salt brands, with each contaminated brand containing between one to 10 particles per kilogram.
The health impact of ingesting microplastics is not yet fully understood. While some studies have found microplastics in the organs and brains of other species, the results are still emerging and inconclusive. Researchers have also struggled to determine the impact of microplastics on human health due to the lack of a control group, as almost everyone is exposed to plastic pollution to some degree.
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Plastic pollution in the environment
Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with microplastics pervading various natural ecosystems and food sources. Sea salt, in particular, has been found to be contaminated by plastic pollution, raising concerns about the potential health implications for humans and other organisms in the food chain.
Research has shown that microplastics are present in a significant proportion of sea salt brands worldwide. Studies have detected microplastics in salt from various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In one study, scientists analysed 16 brands of sea salt and found microplastics in all but one sample. The particles ranged in size from 0.16 millimetres to just under 1 millimetre, with an average width of around 0.5 millimetres. These microplastics are thought to originate from the widespread plastic pollution in the environment, finding their way into the ocean and, subsequently, sea salt.
The health impact of ingesting microplastics is not yet fully understood. While some studies suggest that the hazardousness of ingesting microplastics has not been proven, others indicate that these particles can leach chemicals into the water, posing risks to marine life and humans. Additionally, the presence of microplastics in seafood and other food sources further contributes to potential health concerns.
To address plastic pollution in the environment, reducing plastic use and recycling are crucial. By minimising plastic consumption and properly disposing of plastic waste, we can help prevent plastic debris from entering natural ecosystems and contaminating our food sources. Additionally, alternative sources of salt, such as mined salt or salt from ancient, unpolluted seabeds, can be considered to reduce microplastic exposure.
While the long-term effects of microplastic ingestion are still unknown, the pervasive presence of plastic pollution in the environment, including in sea salt, underscores the importance of addressing this issue. By taking steps to reduce, recycle, and properly dispose of plastic waste, we can work towards mitigating the impact of plastic pollution on our planet and our health.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is a high chance that there is plastic in your sea salt. Research has found microplastics in 90% of sea salt brands worldwide.
The average adult consumes approximately 2,000 microplastics per year through salt. However, the exact amount will vary depending on your salt consumption and the brand of salt you use.
The health effects of ingesting microplastics are currently unknown. While there is limited evidence to suggest that microplastics are causing significant adverse health impacts, more research is needed to fully understand the potential long-term effects.
Sea salt is made through the dehydration of seawater. As a result, it is vulnerable to plastic contamination from the plastic pollution in our oceans. Microplastics may also be introduced during the processing, packaging, transportation, or storage of the salt.
