MINNEAPOLIS, MN— A veteran florist has closed her thriving Minneapolis business after experiencing years of debilitating health issues she attributes to chronic exposure to high levels of pesticides present on imported cut flowers. Sarah Chen, 30, operated a successful floristry shop with a ten-person team for eight years but began suffering from unrelenting fatigue, headaches, and liver enzyme elevation, symptoms her medical provider suggested were linked to chemical poisoning. Her decision to exit the industry in late 2024 brings critical attention to the unregulated pesticide use in the global flower supply chain and the growing health risks confronting florists and their families worldwide.
Chen’s experience highlights a significant occupational health blind spot: unlike food, cut flowers imported into the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States face virtually no legal limits on pesticide residue levels, creating hazardous working conditions for those who handle them daily.
Global Supply Chain Fuels Toxic Risk
Experts note that the chemicals applied to flowers—primarily sourced from countries like Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya, and Ethiopia—are intended to prevent pests and maintain aesthetic perfection during shipping. However, this lack of regulatory oversight transforms bouquets into what some researchers term “toxic bombs.”
Pesticide Action Network, a charity monitoring toxic chemicals, points out that while the danger to casual consumers is low, florists handling large volumes of stems for hours daily are at high risk of dermal absorption and inhalation.
The issue has gained tragic visibility in Europe. In a precedent-setting decision in France in 2022, the government’s Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund formally recognized a connection between the gestational exposure of a florist mother, Sophie Dubois, to these chemicals and the cancer that claimed the life of her 11-year-old daughter, Emmy.
“If someone had warned me, my daughter would still be here,” Dubois publicly stated, underscoring the severe consequences of this hidden occupational hazard.
Researchers Jean-Noël Jouzel and Giovanni Prete are studying potential connections between florists’ pesticide exposure and childhood illnesses. Jouzel notes that while establishing clear-cut causation is difficult, the cluster of similar cases—including two childhood cancer fatalities and a case of neurodevelopmental disorders—suggests a plausible link.
Scientific Evidence Mounts Against Industry Practices
Limited but compelling studies support these concerns. A 2018 Belgian study analyzing 90 commercially available bouquets identified 107 different pesticides. Alarmingly, detectable traces of 70 of these chemicals were found in the urine of florists participating in the study, even among those wearing two pairs of protective gloves. Exposure to one banned pesticide, clofentezine, exceeded acceptable safety thresholds by four times.
Despite clear evidence of chemical transfer, many florists, including those with decades of experience, report being completely unaware of the risks. James Mitchell, owner of Kensington Blooms in London, commented that the topic had never once been raised within the industry.
Chen, who worked without gloves for five years, was shocked to learn about the potential severity of her exposure. “The dark side to floristry is just not talked about,” she stated. Her current symptom-free state after leaving the business strongly suggests her chronic illness was pesticide-related, according to Professor Michael Eddleston, a clinical toxicology expert at the University of Edinburgh.
Urgent Need for Regulation and Education
The British Florist Association (BFA) currently does not publish public occupational hazard guidelines specific to pesticide exposure, with CEO Angela Oliver stating she has not encountered health issues related to the chemicals before. This regulatory and educational gap forces florists to rely on anecdotal warnings.
In France, public outcry following Emmy Dubois’s death has spurred the government to launch a study to assess worker exposure, which is expected to lead to regulatory proposals, potentially including maximum pesticide residue limits for flowers.
Experts agree that immediate industry change is vital. Unlike sectors like cotton, which have made efforts to reduce chemical use, the flower industry lacks monitoring, removing the incentive for current practices to improve.
Eddleston emphasized the data vacuum: “What you’re telling me makes me think we should be recruiting 1,000 florists and studying their health.”
While the industry navigates soaring costs, transparency remains low. Most independent florists purchase flowers “blind,” lacking crucial information on chemical usage or origin. For florists continuing their craft, health precautions are paramount. Former florist Chen advises consistent use of protective gloves, proper ventilation, and sourcing locally grown flowers to mitigate exposure until broader industry regulations are established.