<P> One of the two most prominent dietary risks for disability in the world is eating too much sodium . </P> <P> Only about 6% of the salt manufactured in the world is used in food . Of the remainder, 12% is used in water conditioning processes, 8% goes for de-icing highways and 6% is used in agriculture . The rest (68%) is used for manufacturing and other industrial processes, and sodium chloride is one of the largest inorganic raw materials used by volume . Its major chemical products are caustic soda and chlorine, which are separated by the electrolysis of a pure brine solution . These are used in the manufacture of PVC, plastics, paper pulp and many other inorganic and organic compounds . Salt is also used as a flux in the production of aluminium . For this purpose, a layer of melted salt floats on top of the molten metal and removes iron and other metal contaminants . It is also used in the manufacture of soaps and glycerine, where it is added to the vat to precipitate out the saponified products . As an emulsifier, salt is used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber, and another use is in the firing of pottery, when salt added to the furnace vaporises before condensing onto the surface of the ceramic material, forming a strong glaze . </P> <P> When drilling through loose materials such as sand or gravel, salt may be added to the drilling fluid to provide a stable "wall" to prevent the hole collapsing . There are many other processes in which salt is involved . These include its use as a mordant in textile dying, to regenerate resins in water softening, for the tanning of hides, the preservation of meat and fish and the canning of meat and vegetables . </P> <P> In Canada sea salt is traditionally given to high school graduates to commemorate them symbolically joining the "salty" and difficult real world . (Sea salt may be Greek in origin but is not required .) </P>

Where does most of the salt we eat come from