At a Glance

The tiny bits of plastic were found in 36 of 39 samples tested.Asian brands had especially high densities of microplastics.The highest quantities were found in Indonesian salt brands.

Before you pop that gourmet sea salted caramel in your mouth, consider this: A new study has found that 90 percent of salt brands tested contained microplastics.

Microplastics have been . This new study, published in the journalEnvironmental Science and Technology, looked at in table salt and their correlation to where plastic pollution exists in the world’s oceans.

Of 39 salt brands tested, , according to the study produced by researchers in South Korea andGreenpeace East Asia.

“Recent studies have found plastics in seafood, wildlife, tap water, and now in salt. It’s clear that there is no escape from this plastics crisis, especially as it continues to leak into our waterways and oceans,” Mikyoung Kim, a spokesperson for Greenpeace East Asia, said in a news release.

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The study examined samples of three types of salt — sea salt, rock salt and lake salt — from 21 countries in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia. Only three brands contained no microplastics: a refined sea salt from Taiwan, a refined rock salt from China, and an unrefined sea salt from France.

Asian brands had according to National Geographic. The highest quantities were found in Indonesian salt brands. Both areas have high levels of plastics pollution.

Sea salts had the highest concentrations of microplastics, followed by lake salt and then rock salt, the study found.

Microplastics are bits of plastic debris the National Ocean Service says. They come from larger pieces of plastic that degrade.

Their effect on humans isn't known. A separate study released this week tried to assess the risks of microplastics to the environment. The analysis, by the University of York in Britain,