Behind the vibrant beauty of a fresh bouquet lies a potential health hazard that few customers consider. Florists across the United Kingdom are raising the alarm about prolonged exposure to pesticide residues on imported flowers, with some linking serious illnesses to their profession.
A Wake-Up Call for the Industry
The issue gained tragic prominence in France in March 2022, when the death of 11-year-old Emmy Marivain was officially linked by French authorities to her mother's occupational exposure to pesticides during pregnancy. Laure Marivain, a florist, was granted compensation from France's Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund. "If someone had warned me, my daughter would still be here," Marivain told Le Monde.
This landmark case has sent shockwaves through the floral trade, prompting a closer examination of practices long taken for granted. Unlike food production, there are no legal upper limits on pesticide residue levels for flowers in the EU, the UK, or the US. The rationale has been that people don't typically consume blooms, but this offers little protection to the workers who handle them daily.
Invisible Threats on Imported Blooms
The scale of potential exposure is significant. The British Florist Association (BFA) estimates that roughly 85% of flowers sold in the UK are imported, often from countries like Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya, and Ethiopia where pesticide regulations may be less stringent. These flowers travel through opaque supply chains, with labels rarely detailing chemical treatments.
Research paints a concerning picture. A 2018 Belgian study analysed 90 bouquets and identified 107 different pesticides. Traces of 70 of these chemicals were found in the urine of the florists who handled them, despite them wearing two pairs of gloves. Exposure to one pesticide, clofentezine, was four times higher than acceptable thresholds. The EU has since refused to renew its approval due to endocrine-disrupting properties linked to cancer and birth defects.
"What I would worry about as a florist is long-term chronic exposure to multiple pesticides … which are simply not being controlled and that can't be safe," says Professor Michael Eddleston, a clinical toxicology expert at the University of Edinburgh.
Personal Stories of Illness and Advocacy
For Madeline King, a former florist from Minneapolis, the connection became personal. After years of battling unexplained fatigue, brain fog, nausea, and high liver enzymes, a naturopathic doctor suggested pesticide exposure. King, who ran a successful business for eight years, often worked with bare hands. She closed her studio in December 2024, and her symptoms subsequently faded, strengthening her belief that her job was the cause.
In the UK, awareness is growing but remains patchy. Roisin Taylor, a Durham-based grower and florist, uses TikTok to educate others. She notes the obvious "chalky film" on imported flowers. "It's not dust. It's chemicals," she warns.
Kally Spencer-Townson, a Gloucestershire florist, only learned of the risks after reading about the French case. "I just thought, I've definitely been ingesting whatever pesticides were on these flowers. It is unsettling," she says, recalling seeing colleagues cut food with floristry scissors.
A Call for Education and Regulation
A critical problem identified by many in the trade is a profound lack of education. Floristry courses in the UK, such as those approved by City & Guilds, may mention personal protective equipment (PPE), but these are not mandatory. Many florists learn on the job with no formal safety briefing.
Amy Aniceto, founder of London's Sweet Frank Flowers, echoes the need for clarity: "By the time I'm handling these flowers with gloves, what is my exposure level? It's just impossible to find that research."
In response to the French tragedy, the French government has launched a study to assess flower industry workers' exposure, with conclusions expected in a few years. Campaigners are demanding more immediate action, such as compulsory chemical labelling on flowers.
For now, florists like Madeline King, who has left the industry, offer pragmatic advice: wear gloves, use air purifiers, increase ventilation, and source more locally grown, seasonal flowers to reduce unknown exposures.
"Floristry is beautiful," King reflects, "but I do think there's a really dark side to floristry that is just not talked about." As the industry grapples with this hidden hazard, the call for transparency, research, and protective regulation grows louder.
