S. Ravikumar a, A. Jeyameenakshi a, M. Syed Ali b, King Solomon Ebenezer c
Received 27 July 2022, Revised 2 January 2023, Accepted 22 February 2023, Available online 26 February 2023, Version of Record 14 March 2023.
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The abundance of microplastic is omnipresent in all environments.
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The presence of microplastics in salt has become a global concern.
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Microplastics in aquatic surroundings lead to their accumulation in marine salt pans.
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Salt is an essential seasoning that is used by all people around the world, which makes the pollution in it more threatening to humans.
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is getting worse day by day; there is no ecosystem that’s void of their presence. Microplastics accumulating in marine ecosystems can destroy the stability of that particular ecosystem in many ways. As humans are notorious for consuming and exploiting marine resources, microplastics from the ocean reach humans through the food chain, which could cause ineffable side effects. One of the potential ways for microplastics from marine environments to reach humans is through sea salts taken from solar salt pans, and commercial salts are packaged from refined sea salts. Since the dawn of civilization, humans have used salt in their cooking. Table salts are an indispensable ingredient that gets added to enhance the deliciousness of food and is also used as a preservative, so adulteration or contamination in salts should be critically evaluated and rectified. Hence, this study aimed to analyse the presence of microplastics in sea salts from solar saltpans in some regions of Tamil Nadu and some well-known brands of commercial salts and characterise the type of polymer using FT-IR spectroscopy. This is a baseline study to identify the presence of microplastics in sample salts. This study confirmed the presence of microplastic in all the salt samples taken from salt pans and two brands of commercial salt, which numbered <350 polymer fragments, which include different polymer types. First report on the presence of certain polymer types, including acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polycarbonate (PC), among MPs in India. Dominance was shown by polyethylene, as it was present in most of the samples taken from different places. A detailed study on how microplastic contamination affects the health of human beings and how to effectively prevent microplastic contamination in human consumables is warranted.
He didn't say they were not a concern,he said the current hype is incorrect as far as most people ingesting plastic. It varies from .20 to 50 and they all use the 50 number when talking about it. I cant verify as I haven't watched any of them.
I confess I did not watch the video you posted; just saw the topic and wanted to add scientific literature to the post to help educate the GAW community. Here is another link regarding microplastics from a microplastic researcher: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/02/427161/how-to-limit-microplastics-dangers "I’m a Microplastics Researcher. Here’s How To Limit Their Dangers
More than 80,000 registered chemicals are used commercially in the US. Less than a dozen are regulated."
Assessment of microplastics in edible salts from solar saltpans and commercial salts https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772809923000096
S. Ravikumar a, A. Jeyameenakshi a, M. Syed Ali b, King Solomon Ebenezer c Received 27 July 2022, Revised 2 January 2023, Accepted 22 February 2023, Available online 26 February 2023, Version of Record 14 March 2023.
Abstract Microplastic pollution is getting worse day by day; there is no ecosystem that’s void of their presence. Microplastics accumulating in marine ecosystems can destroy the stability of that particular ecosystem in many ways. As humans are notorious for consuming and exploiting marine resources, microplastics from the ocean reach humans through the food chain, which could cause ineffable side effects. One of the potential ways for microplastics from marine environments to reach humans is through sea salts taken from solar salt pans, and commercial salts are packaged from refined sea salts. Since the dawn of civilization, humans have used salt in their cooking. Table salts are an indispensable ingredient that gets added to enhance the deliciousness of food and is also used as a preservative, so adulteration or contamination in salts should be critically evaluated and rectified. Hence, this study aimed to analyse the presence of microplastics in sea salts from solar saltpans in some regions of Tamil Nadu and some well-known brands of commercial salts and characterise the type of polymer using FT-IR spectroscopy. This is a baseline study to identify the presence of microplastics in sample salts. This study confirmed the presence of microplastic in all the salt samples taken from salt pans and two brands of commercial salt, which numbered <350 polymer fragments, which include different polymer types. First report on the presence of certain polymer types, including acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polycarbonate (PC), among MPs in India. Dominance was shown by polyethylene, as it was present in most of the samples taken from different places. A detailed study on how microplastic contamination affects the health of human beings and how to effectively prevent microplastic contamination in human consumables is warranted.
He didn't say they were not a concern,he said the current hype is incorrect as far as most people ingesting plastic. It varies from .20 to 50 and they all use the 50 number when talking about it. I cant verify as I haven't watched any of them.
I confess I did not watch the video you posted; just saw the topic and wanted to add scientific literature to the post to help educate the GAW community. Here is another link regarding microplastics from a microplastic researcher: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/02/427161/how-to-limit-microplastics-dangers "I’m a Microplastics Researcher. Here’s How To Limit Their Dangers More than 80,000 registered chemicals are used commercially in the US. Less than a dozen are regulated."
Microplastics are also in our air: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/12/429161/microplastics-air-may-be-leading-lung-and-colon-cancers "Microplastics in the Air May Be Leading to Lung and Colon Cancers A review of 3,000 studies also suggests these minute plastic air particles may be causing male and female infertility."
We must have had microplastic for many years.
Influencers are over hyping it,is what he suggests in the video.