How much tiny plastic is in our sea salt?
Microplastics in European sea salts - An example of exposure through consumer choice and of interstudy methodological discrepancies.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Traditionally harvested sea salts contain significantly fewer microplastics than industrially harvested ones.
Many assume industrial processes are cleaner and more controlled, but here they appear to introduce more contamination—possibly through machinery, packaging, or filtration systems.
Practical Takeaways
Consider choosing traditionally harvested sea salts, which may contain fewer microplastics.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Traditionally harvested sea salts contain significantly fewer microplastics than industrially harvested ones.
Many assume industrial processes are cleaner and more controlled, but here they appear to introduce more contamination—possibly through machinery, packaging, or filtration systems.
Practical Takeaways
Consider choosing traditionally harvested sea salts, which may contain fewer microplastics.
Publication
Journal
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
Year
2023
Authors
Christina J. Thiele, L. Grange, E. Haggett, M. Hudson, Philippa Hudson, A. E. Russell, L. M. Zapata-Restrepo
Related Content
Claims (6)
Different studies measure tiny plastic bits in salt in different ways, so it's hard to compare results — scientists need to agree on one standard method.
Sea salt from Europe often has tiny plastic bits in it — on average about 466 pieces per kilo, but it can vary a lot between brands, from as low as 74 to over a thousand pieces per kilo.
Sea salt made the old-fashioned way might have less plastic pollution in it than salt made in big factories — how it's made could affect how much microplastic ends up in it.
You might swallow about 14 micrograms of tiny plastic bits each year from the food you eat, and roughly a quarter of that could come from eating sea salt.
Some of the tiny plastic bits in sea salt might come from how it's made and handled after harvesting, not just from polluted ocean water.