Background: Environmental pollution caused by microplastics (MPs) is quite ubiquitous and has become a global issue. Several studies have focused on MPs in marine and freshwater systems. However, there is a paucity of data about the presence of MPs in sea products like table salt and the risks they likely pose. Hence, this study investigated the presence of MPs in commonly consumed commercial table salts in South-West, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 8 different brands of commonly consumed commercial salts were purchased from open supermarkets in Ogun and Lagos States, Nigeria. Salt samples were digested with 30% H2 O2 , extracted for MPs, and observed under a digital microscope for shape, quantity, and colour. Results: Fibres and fragments were the plastic shapes found in the samples, with fibres being more prominent. The average content of MPs obtained was 12 particles/kg. Blue, pink, and purple colours of MPs were commonly found. The sizes of MPs were between 50 µm and 1 mm. Considering our findings and based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) recommended daily intake of 5 g of salt, Nigerian adults will consume an average rate of 21.9 microplastic particles/year. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, table salts commonly consumed in Nigeria are polluted with MPs. Due to the importance of table salt as related to daily food intakes, it becomes very necessary to fine-tune technologies in their production to improve the quality and lower MPs ingested by consumers in Nigeria.

More from our Archive

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070580 2023

  Toxicity of Heavy Metals and Recent Advances in Their Removal: A Review

  Manar K. Abd Elnabi, Nehal E. Elkaliny, Maha M. Elyazied, Shimaa H. Azab, Shawky A. Elkhalifa, Sohaila Elmasry, Moustafa S. Mouhamed, Ebrahim M. Shalamesh, Naira A. Alhorieny, Abeer E. Abd Elaty, Ibrahim M. Elgendy, Alaa E. Etman, Kholod E. Saad, Konstantina Tsigkou, Sameh S. Ali, Michael Kornaros, Yehia A.-G. Mahmoud

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070561 2023

  Biogenic Fabrication of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Leptolyngbya sp. L-2 and Multiple In Vitro Pharmacogenetic Properties

  Lubna Anjum Minhas, Muhammad Kaleem, Malik Abrar Hassan Minhas, Rooma Waqar, Dunia A. Al Farraj, Mona Abdullah Alsaigh, Hussain Badshah, Muhammad Haris, Abdul Samad Mumtaz

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070613 2023

  Uncertainties in Pollution and Risk Assessments of Heavy Metals in Lake Sediments Using Regional Background Soils in China

  Dejun Wan, Jiapeng Gao, Ruiting Song, Lei Song, Dongliang Ning

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070612 2023

  First Report on Microplastics Quantification in Poultry Chicken and Potential Human Health Risks in Pakistan

  Muhammad Bilal, Madiha Taj, Habib Ul Hassan, Atif Yaqub, Muhammad Shah, Muhammad Sohail, Naseem Rafiq, Usman Atique, Mohammad Abbas, Saira Sultana, Umaiya Abdali, Takaomi Arai

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070594 2023

  Toxic Effects of Methylene Blue on the Growth, Reproduction and Physiology of Daphnia magna

  Shuhui Li, Yixin Cui, Min Wen, Gaohua Ji

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070599 2023

  More Effective Mobilization of Hg2+ from Human Serum Albumin Compared to Cd2+ by L-Cysteine at Near-Physiological Conditions

  Astha Gautam, Jürgen Gailer

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070598 2023

  Screening of Toxic Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticides with a Focus on Acetamiprid: A Review

  Lucia Zuščíková, Denis Bažány, Hana Greifová, Nikola Knížatová, Anton Kováčik, Norbert Lukáč, Tomáš Jambor

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070614 2023

  Metal Levels in Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Eggs from the Surface Reflect Metals in Egg Clutches Laid beneath the Sand

  Joanna Burger

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070597 2023

  Multiple Assays on Non-Target Organisms to Determine the Risk of Acute Environmental Toxicity in Tebuconazole-Based Fungicides Widely Used in the Black Sea Coastal Area

  Lucica Tofan, Victor Niță, Magda Nenciu, Valentina Coatu, Luminița Lazăr, Nicoleta Damir, Daniela Vasile, Dan Răzvan Popoviciu, Alina-Giorgiana Brotea, Angela Maria Curtean-Bănăduc, Sorin Avramescu, Florin Aonofriesei

• DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070596 2023

  Bioaccumulation Pattern and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Cirrhinus mrigala at Panjnad Headworks, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

  Saima Naz, Ahmad Manan Mustafa Chatha, Durali Danabas, Muhammad Farhan Khan, Youhou Xu, Peng Zhu, Laiba Shafique