In a new study, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has detected the pesticide chlormequat in four out of five people tested. Although chlormequat is not allowed for use on crops grown in the U.S., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule in 2023 that would allow the pesticide to be applied to barley, oat, triticale, and wheat crops.
Research on the human health harms posed by chlormequat is limited, but some animal studies have shown the chemical to damage the reproductive system, disrupt fetal growth, and alter key metabolic processes, which raises concerns about how the pesticide might affect humans.