All Indian salt and sugar brands have microplastics: Study

Bengaluru: Salt and sugar marketed by different companies have been found to be contaminated with microplastics, a new report by Delhi-based Toxics Link said, adding to a growing number of reports flagging plastic contamination that affect human health.

Researchers from the advocacy organisation tested 10 salt samples, eight of them branded and two claiming to be 'organic', and and five sugar samples of which four were branded. "The results showed 100 percent of the total assessed samples of salt and sugar were contaminated with microplastics," the report said.

The research paper didn't reveal the brand names but said all the amount and size of the microplastics varied in different salt samples, ranging from 6.71 pieces to a whopping 89 pieces per kg of the salt samples.

In sugar, the size of the microplastics found in different samples varied from 0.1 mm to 5 mm and were mostly in the form of fibres, followed by films and pellets. "Among the five sugar samples, the lowest number of microplastic pieces was found in an organic sugar sample (11.85 pieces per kg) and the highest concentration was 68.25 pieces per kg in a non-organic sugar sample," it said.

Ravi Agarwal, founder director of Toxics Link said the study aimed at adding to the existing scientific database on microplastics so that the global plastic treaty addresses the issue. "The aim is also to trigger policy action and attract the attention of the researchers for possible technological interventions to reduce the exposure risks to microplastics," he said.

Microplastics release harmful chemicals causing various health problems, including reproductive disorders, developmental delays and cancer in humans.

Satish Sinha, associate director, said the study calls for urgent and comprehensive research into the long-term health impacts of the microplastics on health.