The revelation that microplastics lurk amid ediblesaltcomes as an eye-opener for the state government and salt producers. The researchers who recorded the findings are calling for improved refining processes to reduce microplastics in salt.

Gujaratproduces 76% of the countrys salt. Kharaghoda, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, and the Rann of Kutch are major salt-producing centres. The research study, published in Elseviers Marine Pollution Journal, has stated that of the solid microparticle pollutants separated from the samples, 90.3% were microplastic FRACTIONS and 9.7% were non-microplastic fractions. The study was carried out by a team of 10 scientists including geologists, ocean researchers, and biotechnologists.

Polyethylene (78%) was the dominant microplastic pollutant, followed by polyester (19%). Polyvinyl chloride content was found too. The packing material of salt was primarily composed of polyethylene. A few large-sizedplasticfragments which were greater than 5mm were also observed in the samples.