All Indian salt and sugar brands, whether big or small, packaged or unpackaged, contain microplastics, according to a study published on Tuesday.

The study, titled “Microplastics in Salt and Sugar”, conducted by environmental research organisation Toxics Link, tested 10 types of salt – including table salt, rock salt, sea salt and local raw salt – and five types of sugar purchased online and from local markets.

The study found the presence of microplastics in all the salt and sugar samples, which were present in various forms including fibres, pellets, films and fragments. The size of these microplastics ranged from 0.1 mm to 5 mm.

Iodised salt was found to contain the highest amounts of microplastics in the form of multicoloured thin fibres and films.

“The aim of our study was to contribute to the existing scientific database on microplastics so that the global plastics treaty can address this issue in a concrete and focused manner,” said Ravi Agarwal, Founder-Director of Toxics Link.

“Our aim is to mobilise policy action and draw the attention of researchers to potential technological interventions that could reduce the risks of microplastics.”

Satish Sinha, Associate Director at Toxics Link, said: “The presence of significant amounts of microplastics in all of the salt and sugar samples in our study is worrying, and there is an urgent need for comprehensive research into the long-term health effects of microplastics on human health.”

The concentration of microplastics in the salt samples ranged from 6.71 to 89.15 pieces per kilogram of dry weight, the report said.

According to the study, iodised salt had the highest concentration of microplastics (89.15 pieces per kg), while organic rock salt had the lowest concentration (6.70 pieces per kg).

The concentration of microplastics in the sugar samples ranged from 11.85 to 68.25 pieces per kilogram, with the highest concentrations found in non-organic sugar.

Microplastics are a growing global concern as they can harm both health and the environment. These tiny plastic particles can enter the human body through food, water and air.

Recent research has found microplastics in human organs such as the lungs, heart, even in breast milk and unborn babies.

Previous studies had found that the average Indian consumes 10.98 grams of salt and about 10 teaspoons of sugar every day — much higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits.