Organophosphates and Children
The cut flower industry normally requires product that is virtually blemish free for successful marketing.  To achieve this growers often have to use physical barriers (mesh) and or chemicals to protect flowers from insect attack.  Whereas many food products are controlled by the imposition of regulations concerning both the maximum chemical residue allowable and the minimum interval between pesticide application and marketing, the same controls do not apply to cut flowers. Young children seem to be particularly vulnerable to low level exposure to some of the harsher agricultural chemicals.  This exposure can come from living in close proximity to areas where these chemicals are used, living in the same house as people who work in areas where agricultural chemicals are used and from the cut flowers themselves.

The following link contains a summary of the main findings of various research activities which have demonstrated a link between exposure to agricultural chemicals at an early age and the subsequent impact on learning abilities.
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/health/learningdevelopmental.php#deve

The following link is to a paper submitted in 1999 on the exposure to organophosphates of children who live in close proximity to agricultural activities and/or whose parents or other family members work in areas that have been treated with organophosphates.  The study also refers to the higher incidence of childhood cancer amongst children exposed to organophosphates.
http://www.environment.harvard.edu/docs/faculty_pubs/lu_evidence.pdf