Home Microplastics Salt Test

Microplastics were found in sea salt of 128 salt brands, from 38 different origins (Atlantic Ocean, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Celtic Sea, China, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, France, Germany, Himalayan region, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mediterranean Sea, Mexico, New Zeeland, North Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Sicilian Sea, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA- Utah Salt Lake, USA, Vietnam) spanning over 5 continents (Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania).

Here is a simple DIY home test you can do right now to check your salt:

***The Clean Salt Test***

What you need:

- 1/2 cup very warm (not boiling) water
- 2 tablespoons of the salt you're testing
- white filter paper (coffee filter) 
- clear container for dissolving, preferably glass
- coffee cup or bowl to hold filter paper

Here's what to do:

1. Heat the water to boiling then let it cool for a few minutes.
2. Dissolve the salt completely in the very warm water. The solution should be clear and colorless.
3. Place your white filter paper in a coffee cup or bowl so that you can pour the very warm solution through the filter without losing it or burning yourself.
4. Carefully and slowly pour the solution through the filter paper.
5. Allow the filter to dry a bit.
6. Look for bits of colored plastic under a bright light.

IMPORTANT:

Salt crystals usually form around a microscopic dust particle so it's likely you'll see this dust in the filter. That is normal. 

What isn’t normal are specks of colored or white plastic. 

You can use your phone to take a picture of the filter and then zoom in to see better.