Microplastic contamination in edible sea salt from the largest salt-producing states of India

The presence of microplastics in all ecological and environmental conditions has been identified as a global problem. This article aimed to study edible salt-associated microplastics from the major salt-producing states of India. The crystal and powder salt from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat (five samples of powder salt and three samples of crystal salt from each state) were collected and analyzed for their microplastic content. The total microplastic content in the salts ranged from 46 to 115 particles per 200 g in Gujarat salt and 23 to 101 particles per 200 g in Tamil Nadu salt. The microplastics are dominated by red and blue color fibrous-shaped materials. The most common microplastics identified in the edible salts were polyethylene, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride derived from marine and salt-processing units. •Microplastics in the edible sea salt were assessed from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.•Microplastics in Gujarat sea salt are higher than Tamil Nadu sea salt.•Fibrous shaped microplastics are dominant in the sea salts from both the states.•These microplastics are primarily composed of Polyethylene and Polyesters