The green floral foam listed as one of the many "floral design essentials" is not green at all, it is a petro-chemical product that will not break down in landfills. Some newer products now claim that they have enhanced biodegradability. Yet, floral foam is essentially made out of plastic, you can imagine how biodegradable plastic really is. However, that is not the point of this blog post, what we want make florists aware of are the harmful chemicals that are present in floral foam products.

Read this now if you haven't: Material Safety Data Sheet

Most floral foam is made from phenolic foam or simply made of plastic that contains an array of chemicals, including carbon black, formaldehyde and barium sulphates. These chemicals are carcinogenic, meaning that prolonged exposure could even cause cancer. (This is tested on rats and rabbits, unfortunately.) Florists who come into repeated contact with floral foam are at a higher risk of side effects. Within the entire composition of the product, the most harmful components are formaldehyde and carbon black. So know what these chemicals are:

Formaldehyde - Formaldehyde is highly toxic to all animals, regardless of method of intake. Ingestion of as little as 30 ml of a solution containing 37% formaldehyde has been reported to cause death in an adult human. Water solution of formaldehyde is very corrosive and its ingestion can cause severe injury to the upper gastrointestinal tract. At concentrations above 0.1 ppm in air, formaldehyde can irritate the eyes and mucous membranes, resulting in watery eyes. Formaldehyde inhaled at this concentration may cause headaches, a burning sensation in the throat, and difficulty breathing, and can trigger or aggravate asthma symptoms.

Carbon Black - is a material produced by the incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum products such as FCC tar, coal tar, ethylene cracking tar, and a small amount from vegetable oil. Studies have demonstrated that regular exposure to carbon black and other poorly soluble particles may play a role in declining lung capacity as measured by forced expiratory volume in one second. Good occupational hygiene practices should be followed to maintain exposures below the limit.

"Exposure to floral foam can cause eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation. Inhaling dust or fumes is especially damaging and can cause several respiratory issues. Skin frequently exposed to formaldehyde may become hypersensitive, resulting in contact dermatitis." 

Having one brick of floral foam is not going to affect your health. However, long time exposure to a regular amount without caution is another story. These substances are harmful, which every florist should bear in mind when handling floral foam. If you are working with floral foam for a long time, it is important to avoid exposure by wearing gloves and avoiding contact with your skin. When shaping the foam, wear eye protection to avoid dust irritating your eyes. Also, make sure the area is properly ventilated so you are not inhaling the foam particles. Best is to do it outside your studio.

#FLOWERFOAMFREE

Going flower foam free is becoming a movement and there are already many florists out there who are making this conscious decision for their business, their customers and their health. In the end, the truth is flowers love nothing more than plain, clean, fresh water.