Impact and risk of exposure to human health of microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in Brazilian sea salt

• Grant number: 24/16955-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2026
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: André Henrique Rosa
• Grantee: Juliana Araujo Ávila
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Microplastics (MP) are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in diameter and are particularly concerning due to their long environmental persistence, high surface-to-volume ratio, their ability to enter cells, and induce adverse health effects. In addition to the physical risk posed by the particles, MPs also present a chemical risk, as they may contain various additives in their composition and/or carry different contaminants, such as petroleum derivatives/polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The ubiquitous presence of MPs in the world also extends to human consumer products, such as table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl). Since underdeveloped countries like Brazil have undergone a nutritional transition-shifting from regional and fresh eating habits to Western diets, with a prevalence of sodium-rich and unhealthy foods-excessive salt consumption could become an aggravating route of exposure to MP ingestion and potential adsorbed PAHs. Therefore, this project proposes to investigate the presence of MPs and PAHs in sea salt samples produced and commercialized in the country, verifying whether there is a difference in the presence of MPs and PAHs according to grain size (coarse salt, ground salt, and refined salt) and extraction locations. Furthermore, it aims to investigate the risk of exposure through daily ingestion of MPs and PAHs according to scenarios of low, medium, and high salt consumption. Understanding the link between nutritional transition and contaminant exposure is crucial for ensuring food safety and public health in Brazil, as well as providing information that may assist in regulating the food industry, potentially setting limits for MP content in processed foods and clear labeling of these contents.