A thriving Minneapolis flower shop owner was forced to close her business in December 2024 after eight years, citing debilitating health issues she attributes to chronic pesticide exposure from the imported cut flowers she handled daily. Sarah Chen, 30, developed severe symptoms including persistent fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and elevated liver enzymes, leading her to believe that the beautiful blooms she worked with concealed a significant occupational hazard. Her experience, shared by other florists globally, highlights a largely unregulated and overlooked threat within the billion-dollar floral industry, prompting calls for increased awareness and safety standards.
Chen’s decision to shutter her successful 10-person operation underscores a growing concern among some industry professionals and researchers regarding the potent chemical residue present on imported flowers. Unlike produce, cut flowers are generally exempt from strict regulatory limits on pesticide levels in major markets like the European Union and the United States, creating hazardous working conditions for those in the supply chain, particularly florists and farmworkers.
Lack of Regulation Creates Worker Danger
The perceived lack of risk to the general public, who do not consume flowers, often overshadows the constant exposure faced by florists. Pesticide Action Network, a charity based in the United Kingdom, notes that many commercially grown flowers arriving from countries like Ecuador, Colombia, and Kenya are treated aggressively to ensure flawlessness and protection against pests during transport. Workers handle these chemically treated items for hours each day, raising concerns about both inhalation and dermal absorption.
Experts suggest this daily, unprotected contact can be dangerous. Research from a 2018 study analyzing 90 bouquets found 107 different pesticides, with 70 of these chemicals detectable in the urine of florists despite some wearing up to two layers of gloves. Alarmingly, exposure to one specific pesticide, clofentezine—classified as a possible carcinogen by US authorities and banned by the EU in 2023 for its endocrine-disrupting properties—exceeded acceptable thresholds by four times in the study.
Tragic Cases Spur Activism in Europe
The issue gained tragic prominence in France, leading to landmark recognition of occupational exposure. Following the death of her 11-year-old daughter, Emmy, from cancer, French florist Sophie Dubois secured an official connection from the country’s Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund between her daughter’s illness and her own prenatal exposure to floristry chemicals.
This recognition has driven further investigation by researchers Jean-Noël Jouzel and Giovanni Prete, who are examining plausible links between parental pesticide contact in the floristry trade and childhood health issues, including neurodevelopmental disorders and childhood cancers.
“If someone had warned me, my daughter would still be here,” Dubois shared with French media, highlighting the widespread ignorance of the risks within the industry.
Florists Unaware of Chemical Risks
Many florists across the US and UK remain completely unaware of these hidden risks. James Mitchell, who runs a flower shop in West London, noted that after decades in the business, the topic of pesticide residue had never been formally addressed. Florists often prioritize protecting their hands from cuts over chemical exposure, frequently working without gloves.
Chen’s own health crisis began several years into her career, culminating in chronic symptoms that her naturopathic physician suggested were linked to chemical poisoning. Her symptoms subsequently diminished significantly after leaving the demanding floral profession. Clinical toxicology expert Professor Michael Eddleston of the University of Edinburgh stated that the reversal of symptoms following the professional change strongly implies a pesticide connection.
Industry Needs Greater Transparency and Training
The British Florist Association (BFA) currently does not offer publicly available occupational hazard guidelines concerning pesticides, according to CEO Angela Oliver, who admits the organization has not encountered health issues related to pesticide exposure among its members.
However, many florists, like Gloucestershire’s Rachel Webb, 35, have begun taking precautions after learning about the French tragedy through news reports. Webb now consistently uses gloves, reflecting a shift toward greater personal protection.
The path forward requires industry-wide attention to safety and supply chain transparency. Many advocates are pushing for mandatory labeling and training.
“If you had no education in this, your baseline as a florist is maybe thinking: it’s just dust,” explains Emma Harrison, a Durham-based grower and researcher raising awareness online, referring to the chalky film often found on imported blooms. “It’s not dust. It’s chemicals.”
While establishing direct causation between specific chemical exposure and long-term illness remains challenging, experts like Professor Eddleston argue that the mounting evidence demands action. “It surprises me that this hasn’t been picked up before and it hasn’t been recognized as a problem,” he said. “We should be recruiting 1,000 florists and studying their health.”
Until regulatory bodies impose stricter limits, florists are advised to adopt simple protective measures, including consistently wearing gloves, utilizing air purification systems in studios, and prioritizing locally sourced blooms with documented growing methods to minimize chemical exposure. The growing dialogue aims to ensure the floristry profession remains a healthy, sustainable career path.