Microplastics (< 5 mm) are considered to be global environmental pollutants. This study investigates the occurrence, physical properties, polymer composition and surface morphology, and element composition of MPs present in food-grade salts produced from seawater and bore-well water in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, Southeast coast of India. Fourteen different brands of sea salts and bore-well salts were collected from the salt manufacturing units. The mean abundance of microplastics was 35 ± 15 to 72 ± 40 items/kg in sea salt and 2 ± 1 to 29 ± 11 items/kg in bore-well salt. Four types of polymers viz. polyethylene (51.6%), polypropylene (25%), polyester (21.8%), and polyamide (1.6%) were found in salt. Polyethylene fibers of size ranging from 100 to 500 µm were observed commonly. Being manufactured from seawater, sea salt had the highest quantities of different microplastic particles. The study reveals that people consume approximately 216 particles of MPs per year via sea salt and 48 items per year via bore-well salt if the average person has a daily salt intake of 5 g. The surface morphology of MPs as exhibited in the SEM-EDAX images obtained in the study revealed the different weathering features of MPs, such as pits, cracks, and particles adhering to the surface. The presence of the elements Fe, As, and Ni on the surfaces as identified by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy indicates that these elements exist in the environment as contaminants and have become associated with the MPs. The trace metals adsorbed onto MPs increase the risks of human exposure and may cause some adverse effects in humans.

微塑料（<5毫米）被认为是全球环境污染物。这项研究调查了印度东南沿海Tamilorin的海水和井水中产生的食品级盐中MP的存在，物理性质，聚合物组成和表面形态以及MP的元素组成。从制盐单位收集了十四种不同品牌的海盐和井筒盐。在海盐中，微塑料的平均丰度为35±15至72±40项目/ kg，在井盐中，微塑料的平均丰度为2±1至29±11项目/ kg。四种类型的聚合物，即。在盐中发现有聚乙烯（51.6％），聚丙烯（25％），聚酯（21.8％）和聚酰胺（1.6％）。通常观察到尺寸为100至500 µm的聚乙烯纤维。由海水制成，海盐具有最多数量的不同微塑料颗粒。这项研究表明，如果普通人每天摄入的盐量为5克，那么人们每年会通过海盐消耗约216个MP颗粒，而每年通过井盐消耗48个颗粒。在研究中获得的SEM-EDAX图像中显示了MP的表面形态，揭示了MP的不同风化特征，例如凹坑，裂缝和附着在表面的颗粒。通过能量色散X射线光谱法鉴定，在表面上存在Fe，As和Ni元素，这表明这些元素以污染物形式存在于环境中，并与MP相关。吸附在MP上的痕量金属会增加人体暴露的风险，并可能对人体造成一些不利影响。该研究表明，如果普通人每天摄入的盐量为5克，那么人们每年会通过海盐消耗约216个MP颗粒，而每年通过井盐消耗约48个颗粒。在研究中获得的SEM-EDAX图像中显示了MP的表面形态，揭示了MP的不同风化特征，例如凹坑，裂缝和附着在表面的颗粒。通过能量色散X射线光谱法鉴定，在表面上存在Fe，As和Ni元素，这表明这些元素以污染物形式存在于环境中，并与MP相关。吸附在MP上的痕量金属会增加人体暴露的风险，并可能对人体造成一些不利影响。该研究表明，如果普通人每天摄入的盐量为5克，那么人们每年会通过海盐消耗约216个MP颗粒，而每年通过井盐消耗约48个颗粒。在研究中获得的SEM-EDAX图像中显示了MP的表面形态，揭示了MP的不同风化特征，例如凹坑，裂缝和附着在表面的颗粒。通过能量色散X射线光谱法鉴定，在表面上存在Fe，As和Ni元素，这表明这些元素以污染物形式存在于环境中，并与MP相关。吸附在MP上的痕量金属会增加人体暴露的风险，并可能对人体造成一些不利影响。