MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A prominent Midwest florist has closed her thriving business after persistent health issues, including debilitating fatigue and cognitive impairment, were linked by her physician to chronic pesticide exposure from handling imported cut flowers. Sarah Chen, 30, operated her Minneapolis-based floristry for eight years, growing it into a 10-person team before deciding to cease operations in December 2024 due to what she anecdotally believes was occupational poisoning. The incident highlights a significant but often unaddressed hazard within the floral industry: the extensive, unregulated use of chemicals on imported flowers, posing risks primarily to workers along the supply chain.
Chen initially attributed her symptoms—daily headaches, nausea, and memory loss—to stress. However, blood tests revealing elevated liver enzymes prompted her naturopathic doctor to suggest pesticide exposure as the likely culprit. Chen’s experience underscores a growing international concern that current regulations fail to protect florists and flower farm workers, who handle these chemically treated products daily for hours.
Lack of Regulation Creates Occupational Risk
Unlike food products, cut flowers entering the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom are not subject to maximum limits on pesticide residue, a distinction based on the fact that flowers are not consumed. Experts, however, warn that this lack of oversight transforms imported bouquets into what some characterize as “toxic bombs” for those who handle them frequently.
The majority of flowers sold globally—approximately 85% of those in the UK, for example—are sourced from countries such as Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya, and Ethiopia, where regulatory enforcement of pesticide use is often minimal. Research indicates that chemical residues easily absorb through the skin or are inhaled by workers, creating substantial health risks.
A 2018 study investigating the exposure levels of florists in Europe provided alarming evidence. Analysis of 90 commercial bouquets identified 107 different pesticides. Notably, 70 of these chemicals were subsequently detected in the urine of florists, even among those who wore two pairs of protective gloves. Detection rates for one substance, the potential carcinogen clofentezine, exceeded acceptable safety thresholds by four times.
Scientific Evidence Links Exposure to Severe Health Outcomes
While establishing a definitive causal link between florists’ low-level, chronic exposure and long-term health crises remains scientifically complex, mounting evidence suggests a strong correlation.
The issue was tragically brought to the forefront in France when florist Sophie Dubois’s 11-year-old daughter died of cancer in 2022. The French Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund recognized a connection between the child’s cancer and Dubois’s occupational pesticide exposure during her pregnancy, a watershed decision reinforcing the potential severity of the hazard.
Professor Michael Eddleston, a clinical toxicology expert at the University of Edinburgh, stresses the urgent need for a dedicated epidemiological study of the profession. “It surprises me that this hasn’t been picked up before and it hasn’t been recognized as a problem,” Eddleston stated, suggesting that a large-scale study of florists’ long-term health profiles is necessary to quantify the risk.
Industry Awareness and Education Lag
Many veteran florists remain entirely unaware of the chemical risks associated with their materials. James Mitchell, who owns Kensington Blooms in London, noted that despite two decades in the industry, the topic of chemical exposure has never been discussed.
Florists’ associations acknowledge a major gap in education and readily available occupational safety guidance. Angela Oliver, CEO of the British Florist Association (BFA), confirmed that there are no public occupational hazard guidelines specifically for florists. While some accredited floristry courses mention the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by employers, many florists learn on the job without formal training or safety instruction.
Following the tragic case in France, the government launched a study to assess flower worker pesticide exposure, with findings expected to inform future regulatory proposals, potentially including maximum residue limits for cut flowers. In the interim, advocacy groups like the French consumer organization UFC-Que Choisir are demanding immediate action and compulsory chemical labeling.
For current florists seeking to mitigate personal risk, Chen, who reports her symptoms have largely vanished since leaving the industry, advises simple, actionable steps: consistently wearing protective gloves, using air purification systems, and prioritizing locally grown flowers, which generally rely on fewer chemicals. She warns that beneath the beauty of the industry lies an often-ignored “dark side” that demands greater transparency and professional reform.