"Nothing says love like roses coated in a fine chemical cocktail, said Roisin Taylor, of Verde Flower Co in Northumberland, whose business focuses on sustainable flowers and who has been campaigning to raise awareness of pesticides in the industry. Things like clofentazine, a chemical found to disrupt the working of your thyroid, or even carbendazim, which is believed to be a human cancer-causing chemical, or maybe chlorfenapyr, which has been found to, ironically, lead to cardiac arrest when exposed in high dose."
"Laboratory testing on bouquets in the Netherlands, Europe's flower import hub, found roses had the highest residues of neurological and reproductive toxins compared with other flowers. Red roses were found to be the worst, with one bunch containing traces of 26 different pesticides, half of which are banned for use in the EU. Valentine's Day is the flower industry's busiest time of the year."
Laboratory testing in the Netherlands found roses carried the highest residues of neurological and reproductive pesticides compared with other flowers. Red roses were the worst, with one bunch containing traces of 26 different pesticides, about half banned in the EU. Detected chemicals include clofentazine, linked to thyroid disruption; carbendazim, suspected as a human carcinogen; and chlorfenapyr, associated with cardiac arrest at high doses. Many stems sold in Europe originate from Colombia, Kenya and Ethiopia where year-round production and laxer regulations allow stronger pesticides. Pesticide Action Network Netherlands randomly tested 17 bouquets: five rose bunches, eight mixed bouquets and four tulips.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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