As Valentine's Day approaches, UW Earth Club members are asking students to think critically about the flowers they buy for the special day.

Several members of the club will be handing out paper flowers and pamphlets today at the HUB describing the effects of Valentine's Day gifts on the environment.

The bouquets bought in stores are imported from numerous countries, including Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Colombia and Ecuador, according to the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF).

Seventy percent of all flowers sold in the United States are from Columbia and Ecuador.

"After returning from studying abroad in Ecuador and seeing the production of these flowers, I feel I have a responsibility to spread awareness," said Earth Club member Kate Selting.

Selting traveled to Ecuador last quarter to study ecology and conservation near Ecuador's capital, Quito. Through work at a small non-governmental organization (NGO) and visits to organic flower plantations, Selting saw firsthand the conditions brought on by these flower plantations.

Greenhouse flower plantations are sprayed with copious amounts of pesticides, many of which would be illegal in the United States, Selting said.

Ironically, the high demand in the United States for these imported flowers increases production under what would be illegal conditions in the United States, she said.

"Two-thirds of Colombian and Ecuadorian flower workers suffer from work-related health problems, including headaches, nausea, impaired vision, conjunctivitis, rashes, asthma, stillbirths, miscarriages, congenital malformations and respiratory and neurological problems," according to the ILRF Web site.

The majority of these workers are women and children, said Selting, who encountered many female workers at women's support groups through her NGO.

"Without proper training or protective gear they become exposed to intense chemicals and suffer from extreme health risks as a result," she said.

Studies through the American Academy of Pediatrics have shown the impacts on brain development in children exposed to greenhouse chemicals, either through their mother or working and living in and around these plantations.

"It was astounding to see these conditions," Selting said. "It wasn't something I was aware of, and for most people it's off their radar. Just by riding the bus you see these flower plantations scattered throughout the country."

Michelle Parsons, a vendor at The Flower Company in Seattle, said it's not always clear where flowers sold at the shop originate. The majority of the company's flowers come from Canada and about one-third from Ecuador, she said.

"We tend to buy flowers directly from different companies, so we don't necessarily know about the conditions in some of these places," she said. "We do try to promote locally-grown flowers if we have them."

There are many groups working on these issues, including ILRF with its Fairness in Flowers campaign, Global Exchange, Campaign for Labor Rights, US/LEAP and many other organizations.

Some flower-producing countries are trying to address the problem by beginning to create organic flower plantations. Selting, however, said the largest impact on the industry is consumption in the United States and Europe.

"We as the consumer have the choice to change the market, by both changing our habits and spreading awareness," she said.

Valentine's Day flower and other gift options:

• Support local farmers instead of imported flowers via the U-District Farmers' Market located on 50th and The Ave. The market is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

• Buy organic flowers sold at PCC Natural Markets and Whole Foods

• Order organic flowers online

• Buy locally made pastries or chocolates instead

• Hand-make valentines

• Give seeds instead of flowers and let your valentine grow their own bouquet

Five questions to ask your florist:

1) In what country were your flowers produced?

2) Are you aware of the working conditions on the plantations in that country?

3) Do the workers on the plantation have the right to organize and bargain collectively for their rights?

4)Does theplantation produce its flowers organically? If not, do workers have access to protective equipment?

5) Do workers get paid for overtime, especially around peak seasons like Valentine's Day?

— From the International Labor Rights Fund Web site.

Web sites for more information:

http://www.laborrights.org/

http://www.usleap.org/Flowers/flowertemp.htm

http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/index.php

http://diamondorganics.com/prod_detail_list/84

http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/

— Compiled by Arla Shephard

Reach reporter Arla Shephard at news@thedaily.washington.edu.