Most People Have Been Exposed to Little-Known Pesticide: Study
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Feb. 16, 2024 -- A little-known pesticide is likely present in the bodies of most U.S. residents, raising concerns of potential reproductive and developmental problems, researchers report.
In the study, the pesticide chlormequat was found in four out of five people they tested.
“The ubiquity of this little-studied pesticide in people raises alarm bells about how it could potentially cause harm without anyone even knowing they’ve consumed it,” said lead researcher Alexis Temkin, a toxicologist with the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Urine tests revealed the presence of chlormequat in 77 out of 96 U.S. residents tested in 2023, results show.
The tests also found chlormequat at higher concentrations than in prior years, suggesting that exposure to the pesticide could be on the rise.
The findings were published Feb. 15 in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.
Animal studies have shown that chlormequat can damage the reproductive system and disrupt fetal growth. Specifically, it’s been shown to alter development of the head and bones and interfere with key metabolic processes.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations have restricted the pesticide for use only in ornamental plants in the United States, forbidding its use in food crops, the researchers said.
But since 2018, the EPA has permitted chlormequat on imported oats and other foods. Chlormequat stops oat and grain crops from bending over while growing, making them easier to harvest, the EWG says.
The 2018 regulatory change took place under former President Donald Trump, as did a subsequent increase in the allowed amount in 2020.
Further, the EPA under President Joe Biden has proposed allowing the first-ever use of chlormequat on barley, oats and wheat in response to an application submitted by chlormequat manufacturer Taminco, the researchers said.
The EWG is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to test foods for chlormequat. It also says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should add the pesticide to its bio-monitoring program.
“The federal government has a vital role in ensuring that pesticides are adequately monitored, studied and regulated,” Temkin said in an EWG news release. “Yet, the EPA continues to abdicate its responsibility to protect children from the potential health harms of toxic chemicals like chlormequat in food.”
Sources
- Environmental Working Group, news release, Feb. 15, 2024
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2024
Read this next
Seniors Miss Out on Services With Medicare Advantage
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2025 -- Medicare Advantage isn’t that great an advantage for seniors compared with traditional Medicare, researchers say. The privatized form of Medicare...
Is Your Protein Powder Safe? Report Reveals High Heavy Metal Levels
MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2025 -- It turns out, your protein powder might not be as healthy as you think. A new report from the Clean Label Project reveals that popular protein powders --...
Director of the National Institutes of Health Steps Down
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2025 -- The current director of the National Institutes of Health, Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D., has announced that she will step down from the position on Friday...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.