Investigation of Microplastic Contamination in Vietnamese Sea Salts Based on Raman and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopies

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic items smaller than 5 mm as a result of the degradation of plastic products and wastes in the environment. They have been encountered in a variety of sea products, including sea salts. The aim of this research is to investigate the microplastic contamination in Vietnamese sea salts based on Raman and Fourier-Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies. A total of 14 salt brands and no-name salt bags collected randomly at six urban and suburban groceries in Ho-Chi-Minh city were analyzed. The results showed the presence of polymers in the decreasing percentages - PET, PE, PP, PVC, PS, PA-6, and PMMA. There was a higher fluctuation in MPs amount in non-branded salts compared with branded salts. However, the average of MPs was fairly similar – 133.62 items/kg, corresponding to 487.71 items entering the human body per year via salt consumption. All these obtained results revealed MPs pollution in Vietnam sea salts may come from seawater. This study supplied more information about MPs pollution in the sea and for environmental research and food safety.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
Journal EnvironmentAsia : EA / Thai Society of Higher Education Institutes on Environment (TSHE)
Volume14
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-4827-8146/work/142240774
ORCID /0000-0001-5081-2558/work/142255746
Scopus 85108648447

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Anthropogenic microfibers; Sea salt contamination; Raman and Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopies; Can Gio Vietnam