
Behind the Science: How EWG Found the Pesticide Chlormequat in Most People Tested
March 25, 2024 | Source: EWG | by Anthony Lacey
EWG recently revealed that the dangerous agricultural chemical chlormequat was found in four out of five people we tested.
How did we get here?
Chlormequat is linked to reproductive and developmental problems in animal studies, suggesting the potential for similar harm to humans exposed to it through what they eat.
Consumer exposure to chlormequat could be primarily through oat-based foods.
Environmental Protection Agency rules let the chemical be used on ornamental plants – not food crops – grown in the U.S. But chlormequat is sprayed on oats and other crops grown elsewhere and residues of the chemical are permitted on imports. The EPA is proposing for the first time to allow chlormequat to be sprayed on oats and several other grains grown in the U.S.
EWG is concerned that the agency will approve chlormequat on U.S.-grown food crops before addressing concerns about how that decision could affect public health.
EWG’s research was led by EWG’s Senior Toxicologist Alexis Temkin, who has a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the Medical University of South Carolina and a B.A. in biological sciences from Connecticut College. She described how this unique testing project came about.