Pesticide Exposure Among Florists: A Growing Concern
Florists, like Madeline King, 30, spend years battling fatigue, headaches and nausea after handling flowers daily. Her symptoms vanished once she left the industry, but many others remain uncertain if their job is to blame.
Research shows that pesticides used in the flower industry can easily be absorbed through skin contact or inhalation by people exposed for hours every day. The use of these chemicals protects flowers from disease and pests, keeping them uniform and fresh-looking year-round.
However, unlike food, there is no upper limit on pesticide residue levels in flowers in the EU, UK, or US, making it a concerning issue. Many florists may not be aware of the risks, with some feeling fine despite wearing gloves to handle flowers.
One woman's child died from cancer after her mother worked extensively with pesticides during pregnancy, and two other mothers reported their children having neurodevelopmental disorders after exposure to these chemicals.
A study from 1990 found that nearly 9,000 flower workers in Colombia were exposed to 127 pesticides, suggesting higher rates of premature births and birth defects among those who were pregnant at the time.
Another analysis from 2018 identified 107 pesticides in bouquets, with 70 ending up in florists' urine despite wearing two pairs of gloves. Exposure to clofentezine, a pesticide classified as a possible human carcinogen, was four times higher than the acceptable threshold.
Industry experts agree that long-term chronic exposure to multiple pesticides can be particularly hazardous and that education and awareness are crucial for florists.
There is currently no occupational hazard guideline publicly available for florists, although some trade associations publish information on workplace health and safety policies for paid members.
A growing call is being made among authorities and florists to raise awareness about the risks of pesticide exposure in the industry. However, many florists only hear about the issue through word of mouth or reading the news.
For King, a former florist who quit due to her symptoms, wearing gloves, using air purifiers, cracking open windows, and choosing locally grown flowers are essential steps to reduce exposure.
The flower industry has long used pesticides that can seriously harm human health. What the harms look like exactly is difficult to say because data is scarce.
Florists, like Madeline King, 30, spend years battling fatigue, headaches and nausea after handling flowers daily. Her symptoms vanished once she left the industry, but many others remain uncertain if their job is to blame.
Research shows that pesticides used in the flower industry can easily be absorbed through skin contact or inhalation by people exposed for hours every day. The use of these chemicals protects flowers from disease and pests, keeping them uniform and fresh-looking year-round.
However, unlike food, there is no upper limit on pesticide residue levels in flowers in the EU, UK, or US, making it a concerning issue. Many florists may not be aware of the risks, with some feeling fine despite wearing gloves to handle flowers.
One woman's child died from cancer after her mother worked extensively with pesticides during pregnancy, and two other mothers reported their children having neurodevelopmental disorders after exposure to these chemicals.
A study from 1990 found that nearly 9,000 flower workers in Colombia were exposed to 127 pesticides, suggesting higher rates of premature births and birth defects among those who were pregnant at the time.
Another analysis from 2018 identified 107 pesticides in bouquets, with 70 ending up in florists' urine despite wearing two pairs of gloves. Exposure to clofentezine, a pesticide classified as a possible human carcinogen, was four times higher than the acceptable threshold.
Industry experts agree that long-term chronic exposure to multiple pesticides can be particularly hazardous and that education and awareness are crucial for florists.
There is currently no occupational hazard guideline publicly available for florists, although some trade associations publish information on workplace health and safety policies for paid members.
A growing call is being made among authorities and florists to raise awareness about the risks of pesticide exposure in the industry. However, many florists only hear about the issue through word of mouth or reading the news.
For King, a former florist who quit due to her symptoms, wearing gloves, using air purifiers, cracking open windows, and choosing locally grown flowers are essential steps to reduce exposure.
The flower industry has long used pesticides that can seriously harm human health. What the harms look like exactly is difficult to say because data is scarce.
. I mean, I get that they need to protect those flowers, but at what cost? 
It's wild that some people are still feeling fine despite wearing gloves - doesn't that just raise more questions about the actual levels of exposure? 
That's just not right. They need to be protected, and they need to know what they're up against.
. And it's great that people like Madeline King are speaking out about their experiences - maybe we can learn from their stories and make some changes? 
"The biggest danger to our future lies in delay and indifference." The lack of awareness about pesticide exposure among florists is alarming! 
Industry experts need to step up and provide clear guidelines for florist safety, and it's up to us to spread the word! 
I feel bad for Madeline King and all those florists who got affected by pesticide exposure. It's crazy how our bodies can absorb these chemicals, even if we're wearing gloves 
. The fact that there's no upper limit on pesticide residue levels in flowers is super concerning 
. We should be looking out for each other, supporting our fellow workers and educating ourselves about the risks 
. And these florists are like, "Oh, I'm fine" even with gloves and everything 
. We need better guidelines and education for these poor workers! They shouldn't have to suffer like this just to get a job 
.
. I've seen so many posts on social media from people who used to work in floristry and are now dealing with long-term health problems. It's heartbreaking 
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. The fact that there's no upper limit on pesticide residue levels is crazy – what if they're exposing themselves to a toxic cocktail every single day? And the worst part is, most of these florists don't even know what they're putting in their bodies! They just need some education and awareness about the risks, you know? Like, what's the point of wearing gloves if you're still gonna breathe in that stuff? 
. It's like, if you're working with pesticides for years, your body is basically just gonna adapt or something... 
Or maybe not? 
I mean, it's not like we have all the answers, but shouldn't there be more research on this stuff already? 
The fact that there isn't an occupational hazard guideline for florists is pretty concerning, you know? 
What if they're just gonna keep working with pesticides and hope for the best? 
I don't know, maybe I'm just being too optimistic... 
... and then they gotta worry about poisonous chemicals too? 
It's crazy that there's no limit on pesticide residue levels in flowers 
. It's time for the industry to step up and provide more info and resources on how to stay safe while working with pesticides 
. We need to get some concrete data and guidelines in place ASAP for these workers, like a proper occupational hazard guideline 
. And yeah, education and awareness are key – we can't keep relying on word of mouth or news articles to spread the word 
. Some of the symptoms Madeline King experienced sound pretty severe, especially if her child died from cancer after exposure during pregnancy... just not right 
.
. I feel bad for Madeline King and others who have suffered from long-term exposure. It's crazy how some people can just shrug it off thinking they're fine, only to realize later their health has been compromised 
. It's time to give these people some protection and resources. Our flowers deserve it too 
.
! But seriously, it's crazy how nobody really knows what they're up against when it comes to pesticides. I guess you could say the flower industry is in a bit of a sticky situation