Pesticide linked to fertility issues found in common oat products
Chlormequat chloride is a plant growth regulator and is used on grain crops. This chemical is toxic to the developmental and reproductive systems. It has been showing up in greater amounts in recent years in oat-based products, and they have been found in popular brands such as Quaker Oats and Cheerios. According to the recently published study in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, “Toxicological studies suggest that exposure to Chlormequat can reduce fertility and harm the developing fetus at doses lower than those used by regulatory agencies to set allowable daily intake levels.” The study also mentioned that recent reproductive studies on rats indicated a delayed onset of puberty, reduced sperm motility, male reproductive organs weighing less, and lowered testosterone levels when the rats were exposed to Chlormequat during sensitive time frames of development. Other developmental toxicology studies show that exposure to Chlormequat during pregnancy can negatively impact fetal growth and metabolism.
In the United States Chlormequat is only allowed on imported oat and wheat products. It was originally only allowed to be used in the US on ornamental plants however the EPA made a change to that in recent years allowing it to be used on imported grains. The domestic use of Chlormequat on non-organic crops is currently under review by the EPA. The organic oat products only had one out of eight products that tested positive for Chlormequat and had very low levels. Whereas the 23 out of 25 conventional oat-based products had detectable levels of Chlormequat. It makes you wonder given the toxicological studies that have been conducted how this was approved for use on our food.