According to investigative journalist Amy Stewart, cut flower sales exceed $40 billion a year, and the famous Dutch Aalsmeer market handles about 19 million flowers perday. Nearly half of the world’s flowers travel through these large Dutch auction houses. And 78% of all cut flowers that are sold in the United States are imported from Latin and South America[1].
With the need to grow, transport, and ship floral product worldwide, chemicals are used to preserve the investment made in growing these delicate botanicals. However, although we’re aware that pesticides are used in the floral industry, it means there is risk of chemical exposure for floral pros. What can do you do protect yourself in your journey with flowers?
The Problem of Pesticide Use in Cut Flowers
As our industry grows, many wholesalers are working with domestic and foreign growers to import flowers and make them available year-round. These cut flowers have to pass stringent United States Customs inspections before entry to prevent foreign fungal and insect infestations.
There is absolutelyno limitto the amount of pesticides sprayed on cut flowers imported into the U.S. because they are not considered a consumable. Foreign growers have invested too much time and money to jeopardize their product, so it is sprayed heavily with numerous fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides throughout their growing seasonandprior to shipment. Therefore, pesticide residues remain on the stems, petals, and foliage of the flower bunches we work with.
The consumer or customer is not likely to be affected by this because they receive pre-designed arrangements. However, the floral designers can experience side effects. When you spend several hours per day (and several days a week) processing and designing without gloves, your skin is absorbingallof these toxic chemicals.
As far back as 1979, scientific literature reports of ten cases of possible organophosphate pesticide poisoning in the American Journal of Public Health titled “Cut Flower: A Potential Pesticide Hazard.” This paper suggests setting safety standards for residue levels on cut flowers [2].
Testing the Flowers
In 2016, a Belgian team of scientists led by Dr. Khaoula Toumi sought to find out if pesticide residues could be detected on three cut flower species: roses, gerberas, and chrysanthemums sampled from different florists in seven of the largest cities in Belgium. They were able to determine over 107 different active substances that were either herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides [3].
Summary table of active substances found on samples tested:
Biological Activity: Roses - Gerbera - Chrysanthemums
Fungicides: 46 - 15 - 12
Herbicides: 1 - N/A - N/A
Insecticides: 47 - 14 - 19
Growth regulators: 3 - 1 - N/A
Roses were determined to be the most contaminated out of the three cut flowers [3].
Table 8 illustrates the different hazard categories that all of the active substances fall under: acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, sensitization of respiratory tract or skin, skin corrosion/irritation, and specific acute/chronic organ toxicity [3].
Testing the Gloves Worn by Florists
In 2017, this same team went on to check whether these residues could be found on cotton gloves worn by volunteer florists. They proved thatallglove samples submitted for analysis were contaminated with high levels of fungicides [4]. They went on to test the concentrations of these fungicides, and they determined the average and maximum concentrations. The team also compiled the fungicides as to what hazard category they belonged to. This study proves that pesticide residues are being transferred from cut flowers to the florist’s hands [4].
Testing the Urine of Florists
An additional study was published in 2019 comparing the urine samples of 42 Belgian volunteer florists versus a group of “individuals not occupationally exposed to pesticides” during the “three most important commercial periods” [5].The team discovered a total of70 residues, and the average individual florist’s urine sample contained about eight pesticide residues and metabolites. These results were significant compared to the control group, who were not exposed to pesticides. Taken together, this information proves that these pesticides are entering the bloodstream and circulatory system of the florists and pose a health risk.
