Your favourite salt and sugar brands probably have microplastics. But is that surprising?

India-based NGO Toxics Link recently measured the amount of microplastics present in several sugar and salt brands in the country. The study has released details on the type, shapes, sizes and colours of microplastics present in samples, and given recommendations too.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic ranging in size from 5 mm to 1 micrometre. They are generated by larger pieces of plastics constantly eroding into smaller pieces, and also from plastic pieces manufacture directly at that scale.

Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) becoming an ubiquitous thing

The findings of the latest study are barely surprising, unfortunately. Today, there are microplastics and nanoplastics all around us – inside every living being and in the air all of us breathe in. They come from both industries and plastic items surrounding us in everyday life.

Plastics have been around since the late 19th century. They are produced as a by-product of fossil fuels and have been exploding in usage since the second half of the 20th century due to their ease of use, durability, flexibility and affordability.

Today, micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) are found at the bottom of the ocean, at the top of Mount Everest, inside polar ice and in every marine, mammal and bird life. Nanoplastics especially are tiny enough to breach the blood-brain barrier and have been found in the brain.

Effect of microplastic accumulation in the body

Risk assessment around microplastics stands at a very nascent stage because those attempting to study health risks have been facing a unique problem – there are no controls. There is nothing devoid of microplastics that can be used to compare.

Microplastic accumulation in the body could trigger cardiovascular health problems or cancer. There is no doubt about the toxicity of MNPs, but the exact impact they can have on different parts of the human body is almost entirely uncertain.