This study investigated microplastics (MPs) in commercial sea salts from Bangladesh. The presence of MPs in the 18 sea salt bands was 100 %, where the mean MPs abundance was 471.67 MPs/kg, ranging between 300 and 670 MPs/kg. The maximum number of MPs in the 300-1500 μm size class was significantly higher than the 1500-3000 μm and 3000-5000 μm size class. The most dominant color was black. Fibers and foams were the dominant shapes. The highest number of MPs was 41 %, obtained from coarse salt grains. Four types of polymers were mainly identified from the analyzed samples: PP, PE, PET, and PA. The mean polymer risk index value among these sea salts was 539 to 1257. The findings of this study can be helpful for consumers, salt industries, and policymakers to be aware of or reduce MP contamination levels in sea salts during production and consumption.

Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management Noakhali Science and Technology University Noakhali 3814 Bangladesh; Department of Natural Resource and Society University of Idaho Moscow ID 83844 USA

Department of Oceanography Noakhali Science and Technology University Noakhali 3814 Bangladesh

Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment Goiano Federal Institute Urutaí GO Brazil; Post Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources Goiano Federal Institute Urutaí GO Brazil; Post Graduation Program in Ecology Conservation and Biodiversity Federal University of Uberlândia Uberlândia MG Brazil; Post Graduation Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity Federal University of Goiás Goiânia G O Brazil

School of Science RMIT University Australia

University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrogenases Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology Zatisi 728 2 389 25 Vodnany Czech Republic; Department of Oceanography Noakhali Science and Technology University Noakhali 3814 Bangladesh

Water Quality Research Laboratory Chemistry Division Atomic Energy Center Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission 4 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue Shahbag Dhaka 1000 Bangladesh

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