(FeaturedNews.com) – A new peer-reviewed study determined that a pesticide that has been previously linked to developmental and reproductive problems in animals has been found in several oat-based foods, including Quaker Oats and Cheerios.
The pesticide Chlormequat was found in 80 percent of the people who were tested in different parts of the United States from 2017 to 2023. The study was led by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and was originally published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.
Researchers also determined that according to the samples, the concentration in 2023 had increased when compared to previous years.
The National Library of Medicine has a number of published studies that draw a connection between developmental and reproductive health issues in animals and this pesticide. There are also questions about whether or not the pesticide could potentially also be harmful to humans.
The nonprofit American activist group EWG is predominantly focused on advocacy and research in several areas including water pollutants and their effects, toxic chemicals, agricultural studies, and corporate accountability.
In 2018, researchers pointed out that the Environmental Protection Agency had previously published a food tolerance level for chlormequat chloride in imported grains and certain animal products. However, the study noted that the acceptable amount of oats was increased in 2020.
The pesticide is reportedly used on grain crops, including barley, oats, and wheat, and can decrease the plants’ stem height. This reduces the chance of them getting bent over and thus makes the harvest easier.
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