Study Finds Toxic Pesticide in 4 Out of 5 People Tested

A new study has found that a little-known toxic pesticide known as chlormequat was found in four out of five people tested.

The researchers tested for the pesticide’s presence in the urine of 96 people, finding that the pesticide was present in the urine of 77 of the people.

The study found a higher detection rate, and higher levels of chlormequat, in samples taken in 2023 when compared with samples taken from 2017 to 2022, suggesting that consumers may be being exposed to the pesticide more and more.

The researchers also detected chlormequat in 92 percent of foods which are oat-based and which were bought in May 2023, including Cheerios and Quaker Oats.

The news comes as manufacturers of pesticides and herbicides are facing thousands of lawsuits, such as lawsuits which allege that Roundup causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and lawsuits which allege that paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease.

What Is Chlormequat?

Chlormequat is a pesticide which is used to regulate the growth of plants. The pesticide was the first plant growth regulator to be discovered – it was found in the 1950s. It can cause reduced stem height, stem thickening, plant dwarfing, additional root development, and can increase the concentration of chlorophyll.

It can cause plants to develop sturdier, thicker stalks, which facilitates harvesting regarding cereal crops. Chlormequat decreases stem height, preventing crops from bending, which may make it more difficult to harvest the crops.

How Are We Exposed to Chlormequat?

Chlormequat, in the United States, is registered to be used on ornamental plants which are grown in nurseries, shadehouses and greenhouses. The use of chlormequat on food crops in the United States is not permitted.

However, the use of chlormequat on imported oats, as well as on other foods sold in the United States, is allowed. Many oat products and oats which are consumed in the United States are sourced from Canada.

Those who are at risk of exposure to chlormequat are those who eat oats or products containing oats, such as Quaker Oats or Cheerios.

Those who wish to avoid exposure to chlormequat can buy organic oats and products containing organic oats.

The news that about 80 percent of people have chlormequat in their urine was similar to reports that around 80 to 90 percent of people have glyphosate in them.

How Is It Harmful?

What we know about the potential harm that chlormequat may cause humans is based on animal studies which discovered that chlormequat caused:

• Decreased fertilization rates and sperm motility
• Mating disruption and difficulties
• Fetal development while animals were pregnant
• Altered embryo development and growth

These studies focused on animals such as rats and pigs rather than on humans. While animal studies do not prove that chemicals can harm humans, they can assist us in predicting how chemicals may affect humans.

Other Dangerous Pesticides

There are many pesticides and herbicides which are toxic to humans and can harm humans. Two examples which have been in the news lately due to lawsuits being filed over them are paraquat and Roundup.

Paraquat

Thousands of lawsuits allege that the herbicide paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease, a devastating, incurable, progressive neurological disease which results in decreased motor function.

Lawsuits allege that paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease by destroying dopaminergic neurons, which are neurons responsible for producing dopamine. Our body needs dopamine for motor function, and these neurons do not grow back once they die. So, once too many of these neurons die, the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease manifest themselves.

Lawsuits allege paraquat kills dopaminergic neurons through oxidative stress. Lawsuits claim that paraquat, once it gets in the brain, starts a never-ending cycle/chain reaction where molecules which cause oxidative stress are constantly produced, leading to the death of dopaminergic neurons. This cycle continues indefinitely as long as oxygen is present – oxygen is plentiful in brain cells.

Roundup

Thousands of lawsuits allege that the herbicide Roundup causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a deadly form of cancer.

Since October 2023, there have been six verdicts in Roundup litigation which have been favorable for plaintiffs claiming that Roundup gave them cancer. Those verdicts resulted in awards of $2.25 billion, $3.46 million, $1.56 billion, $332 million, $175 million and $1.25 million.

What to Do If You’re Exposed to Pesticides?

If someone has gotten pesticides on the skin or eyes, or inhaled or swallowed a pesticide:

• Call 911 if they’re unconscious, convulsing or having difficulty breathing
• Check the pesticide label for first aid directions
• Call poison control at (800) 222-1222 to receive first aid help

If somebody has swallowed pesticides, only induce vomiting if the product label or emergency personnel you’re talking to on the phone tells you to. Whether vomiting will help or not depends on what pesticide has been swallowed – some poisons can do more damage when the person who swallowed them vomits.

If pesticides get in the eye, it is important to act quickly as some pesticides can damage eyes within minutes. Keep the eyelid open, washing it gently and quickly with clean water for at least 15 minutes. If it’s possible to do so, contact poison control while the victim undergoes treatment. Do not use drugs, chemicals or eye drops in the water you’re washing the eye with.

If pesticides get on skin, remove any clothing that’s been contaminated and drench the area of skin with water. Wash the hair and skin thoroughly with water and soap. Discard any clothing which has been contaminated or wash it thoroughly and separately from other clothes.

If pesticides are inhaled, drag or carry the victim and get them to fresh air immediately. If you feel protection like a respirator is necessary and one isn’t available, give a call to the fire department, then wait for them to provide you with emergency equipment before you enter an area with pesticides in the air. Loosen any tight clothing the victim has on. If the victim has stopped breathing or their skin is blue and you know how, give artificial respiration. Call rescue service and ask for help. Open windows and doors so nobody else is poisoned by fumes.

If you believe that you or a loved one have developed Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to paraquat, or that you or a loved one have developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after being exposed to Roundup, you may want to contact a lawyer, as you may be eligible for financial compensation in a lawsuit.

Should You Hire an Attorney?

If you believe that you or a loved one developed Parkinson’s disease or non-Hodgkin lymphoma after being exposed to paraquat or Roundup, call us today for a free consultation. We are experienced hazardous exposure lawyers who have been representing clients exposed to hazardous substances like paraquat, Roundup and asbestos since 1990, having recovered over 0,000,000 on behalf of clients.

We represent hazardous exposure clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t charge you any fee until and unless we win your case. The only fee we will charge to handle your paraquat or Roundup case is a percentage of any money we recover for you. No recovery – no fee. No upfront fees – no out-of-pocket fees.

If you can’t afford treatment for your Parkinson’s disease or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, we can get you to doctors who will treat you without charging you until your case is over.

Call us today for a free consultation, text us from this page or fill out the free case evaluation form on this page if you or a loved one developed Parkinson’s disease or non-Hodgkin lymphoma after being exposed to paraquat or Roundup. We can help you recover financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more.