Impurities of natural salts of the earth.

In this study, 18 different samples of unrefined coarse food salt were examined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, microphotographs were taken to determine the visual distribution of the impurities in the salt samples. None of the salt samples analysed contained arsenic, mercury, tin, and antimony. Cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead, barium, lithium, aluminium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, cupper, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and calcium were determined in some salt samples. According to the results of FTIR analysis mainly polyamide polymer derivatives were found in Himalaya White, Himalaya, Klodawa, Nakhchivan, Delice, Guérande Flake, Guérande Celtic, Maldon, Havaii Black, Havaii Green, Havaii Red, Maras, and İzmir salts.