Sea salt has been used as a natural flavoring for centuries and boasts a handful of benefits, including boosting proper brain function and maintaining digestive health. However, new research shows that the popular mineral has been contaminated by plastic pollution. Furthermore, the contamination appears to be global, with it popping up in in the UK, France and Spain, as well as China and now the U.S.
How does this happen?
The United Nations states that up to 12.7 million tons of plastic – such as water bottles — enters the world’s oceans each year. That’s equal to dumping one garbage truck of plastic every minute.
“Not only are plastics pervasive in our society in terms of daily use, but they are pervasive in the environment,” said Sherri Mason, a professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia, who led the latest research into plastic contamination in salt. Plastics are “ubiquitous, in the air, water, the seafood we eat, the beer we drink, the salt we use – plastics are just everywhere”.
Along with researchers at the University of Minnesota, Mason examined micro plastics found in 12 different kinds of salt – from U.S. grocery stores — beer and drinking water, The Guardian reports.
The significance?
Americans could be ingesting up about 660 particles of plastic each year — assuming they adhere to expert guidelines to eat no more than 2,300 milligrams (mgs) per day. Because the average American’s sodium intake is so excessive, they could be downing much more.