The use of helium balloons has become common at festive occasions and promotional events. The balloons are colourful, fun and carry messages. Unfortunately, these balloons that rise so gracefully into the sky come back down as litter. What is very scary is where these balloons come down, and the problems they pose for wildlife.
Large numbers of balloons are being found on our local beaches on a regular basis. The balloons in this photo were collected from one beach, in just one hour. Some balloons printed with advertising logos have been found to have originated several hundred kilometres away.
Some people think that the balloons burst into tiny pieces when they rise high into the atmosphere. This is not the case. These balloons that are washing up on our beaches are not tiny pieces – some are still partially inflated. Most have their ribbons still attached. Helium balloons drift long distances with the prevailing wind. When they fall into the sea they travel on the current.
Marine wildlife feed on items that float in the sea. Sadly that can include plastic rubbish that cannot be digested. Dead turtles, shorebirds and dolphins have been found with plastic in their gut.
We need to be more aware of the rubbish that is ending up in the ocean, and take steps to prevent it. It is so very easy to prevent helium balloons littering the ocean and washing up on our beaches.
- Use balloons filled with air, not helium. Air filled balloons do not escape so readily.
- If you must use helium balloons make sure they are anchored very securely so they don't fly away.
- After you have finished with the balloons throw them in the rubbish bin.
Think of other ways to display your message.
Helium balloons may carry a death sentence for some of our native animals – and that is not a good message.
Imelda Jennings, Wildlife SOS
Guest Speak is a North Coast Voices segment allowing serious or satirical comment from NSW Northern Rivers residents. Email ncvguestpeak at live dot com dot au to submit comment for consideration.
10 comments:
Sorry to say that your article is not accurate and does what so many stories have done for years - mix natural 100% biodegradable latex balloons with plastic trash. Apples and Oranges.
This "issue" has been talked about for some 20+ years and in that time there is not one documented case of a sea animal ever being harmed by a latex balloon let alone being killed.
It is a good prcatice to weight balloons that are given away for promotions but also realize that many of the balloons that are found at beaches, are brought there by children who have water balloon fights near the water.
(these balloons are too small to be filled with helium and released)
Latex balloons when released travel to a height of approx. 5 miles and the majority will shatter into small pieces. There will always be some that do not rise that high and come back down whole. Your story challenges a scientific fact about what does happen to helium latex balloons when released - again, not the truth.
Latex is the largest natural product coming out of our rain forests and is harvested in the same manner as maple syrup - meaning that the trees are not harmed to collect it. There are so many positive stories about latex and balloons including balloon releases. Unfortunately we live in a world where stories about how "eating birthday cake will kill you" grab all the attention and of course facts are not important.
I think I'll believe reputable organisations listed below and Wildlife SOS.
From Australian Seabird Rescue:
"Although the mass releases of helium balloons are illegal in NSW, the occasional party balloon slips through the fingers and drifts off to places unknown. We regularly pick balloons, scattered along the beaches, to avoid them being swallowed by turtles and seabirds.
On Tuesday, June Harris, a local, avid birdo noticed a Giant Petrel wallowing helplessly in the surf at Shelley Beach. ASR Volunteers Rod and Angie were soon on the scene and retrieved the bird from the water. A ribbon was hanging from the bird’s beak and we had some serious fears that a balloon was lodged in its intestines.
For an hour we struggled with the ribbon, but try as we may, the item would not dislodge. In desperation, we dosed the bird with olive oil, to lubricate the system. A few minutes later, 30 cm of ribbon was hauled from the bird’s innards, with an orange balloon attached. The bird was starving, and would have died in a matter of days. Within the hour of removing the balloon, the bird was feasting on fresh fish at our WildlifeLink Centre."
http://www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com/WhatGoesUp-LanceFerris.htm
From Marine Conservation Society:
"The following species, all of which occur in the North East Atlantic waters off the UK, have been reported with latex balloons in the digestive systems:
Common Dolphin
Risso's Dolphin
Loggerhead Turtle
Leatherback Turtle
Blue Shark
Northern Fulmar
It is very difficult to prove that ingestion of a balloon has been the direct cause of death of a beached animal. However, the fact that balloons have been identified in the stomachs of these animals indicates that the balloons are not rapidly broken down by an animal's digestive system and/or that death occurred shortly after ingestion of the balloon."
http://www.ukrivers.net/balloon_fact.html
I would like to see 'Anonymous' (who made the first comment here about this post) please provide some actual evidence to support their claims or inferences that:
(1) 'Latex balloons when released travel to a height of approx. 5 miles and the majority will shatter into small pieces'. What about balloons made from other materials (like foil and rubber?) - the article doesn't even refer to latex balloons or balloons of a particular material so why the assumption?
(2) All promotional balloons are made from natural latex (again, there is no claim in this article that it is solely referring to latex balloons?).
(3) 'There is not one documented case of a sea animal ever being harmed by a latex balloon let alone being killed' - this is quite a claim, can you really be 100% sure there are absolutely NO cases anywhere in the world (let alone referenced in the comment that followed yours!)?
(4) Please provide reference to the 'scientific fact' about what happens to helium latex balloons in order to 'educate' others about this post.
Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, but please back up your generalised comments with some substance and fact if you are going to take on the responsibility of critiquing someone else's blog post.
Wow - seem to have struck a nerve here.
Let's begin
Reputable organization:
The Balloon Council based in Washing DC - www.balloonhq/BalloonCouncil/facts.html
Go there and you will find a wealth of factual information about latex balloons and the history of how this mis information has gotten so badly out of hand.
Australian Seabird Rescue
Balloons will always escape and drift away - latex or foil - and it is documented that some creatures in the world will eat them. This is unfortunate but not something that can be prevented entirely. Education about weighting balloons will help.
Professionally done balloon releases are always done with latex balloons that are not attached to ribbon or strings.
Marine Conservation Society
Yes - am well aware of the variety of sea life that have been found with latex balloons in their system. The Leatherback in particular - being a scavenger will eat almost anything in the water to satiate its appetite. A study conducted by Peter Lutz at the University of Miami actually fed bits of latex balloons to turtles in captivity and no turtles in the study were harmed or died. Simply stating that pieces of latex were found in their system does not support that they are being harmed or killed by these pieces of latex balloons.
Grafton Resident
1. See above - Balloon Council
There are just two types of balloons - foil and latex(rubber).
Foil balloons do not shatter like the latex varitety and also do not biodegrade - again - see Balloon Council.
2. Point well taken and was basing this on the photo which contains mainly latex balloons as well as reference to advertising balloons which are almost always latex . Upon rereading - you are correct. My point though is that too often in the 20 years this has been discussed, latex is lumped in with plastic pollution which is not true and unfair.
3. It is not "quite a claim" - it is a fact and you can imagine the frustration at being asked to provide proof on something that is not happening. As for the story about the unfortunate Giant Petrel - would like to see documentation. What we have found over the years are countless "cases"/headlines siting latex balloons as a cause of injury or death. When actual reports are finally optained, the cause of death is something entirely unrelated. (motor boar blade - fishing net etc.) We then hear that the latex balloon "could have contributed to the cause of death" - very unfair and yet the headline about latex balloons causing death stands and the myth is perpetuated.
We're talking 20 years here and all we are asking for is one documented case. During a 10 year study period, more than 100,000 sea turtles were killed by shrimp trawlers alone. The balloons can kill headline gets great amounts of press - but where is the proof?
4. see above re:Balloon Council
We agree about freedom of speech and would appreciate you taking the time to actually read the facts as the negative stories about latex balloons has taken a tremendous toll on an industry comprised of professional people world wide who create joy and happiness. This issue first surfaced on false information more than 20 years ago. It has been repeated so many times that the misinformation becomes fact. The industry of balloon professionals are not uncaring or careless people - far from it. What I would like is for the facts and truth to be told and for all concerned to realize there are always two sides to every story and false information/headlines can have a devastating effect on people's business.
"Anonymous" seems to be missing a very pertinent point here - an Australian state government does not lightly restrict particular use of a product manufactured, imported or sold by a business in that state.
As at 30 June 2009 the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 at 146E still prohibits mass release of any type of festive/party balloon into the environment.
See: http://portsea.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/poteoa1997455/
What happens in America or to an industry there (to which
"Anonymous" just may belong given the use of "we" in his/her second post) may differ significantly to what occurs in NSW, where the precautionary principle is applied.
The NSW Act was reviewed in 2005 and community/industry submissions were invited at that time and, presumably the balloon industry made known any concerns it had with the legislation.
The result was that NSW still considers these balloons are a form of pollution/litter.
As to wanting to see documentation from Australian Seabird Rescue - might I suggest that "Anonymous" pick up the phone and contact this respected organization (wellknown on the NSW North Coast) if the description and photos on its website do not satisfy.
Clarencegirl:
Government agencies, city councils, boards etc. world wide have been doing this - adopting legislation - for years based not on fact but emotion. This is my main point - that the truth and facts about latex balloons and the enviroment have been misrepresnted going on two decades now. Just because this act was passed does not change the facts.
This issue even made its way into a Federal Court in the state of Washington (Seattle). It was interesting that with the headlines stripped away and only facts being presented, the ruling was in favor of professionally done balloon releases.
The pertinent point here is facts and truth. I applaud the efforts of the Australian Seabird Rescue folks and all like them at Stranding Centers and Rescue facilities around the world. The work they do is magnificent. While we may never see eye to eye on every subject, I believe it best to be fair and open minded about everyone's point of view and let all the facts be presented before making decisions.
"Government agencies, city councils, boards etc. world wide have been doing this - adopting legislation - for years based not on fact but emotion." says
"Anonymous".
It rather seeems that he/she is the one mired in "emotion".
Nowhere does the NSW legislation, covering the mass release of balloons, specifically mention latex balloons.
It's remnants of burst and deflated festive/party balloons of all types that are considered to be litter once these remnants return to earth.
In NCV comments only "Anonymous" insists on singling out latex ballons for discussion.
It is also "Anonymous" who apparently asserts (without offering any proof) that NSW legislation covering litter is based on emotion.
It is also obvious that he/she is not familiar with how NSW frames its laws or how Australian society regards the issue of litter.
The fact that there appears to have been no Australian court judgment challenging NSW legislation covering restrictions on the mass release of balloons speaks to the fact that reducing litter is an accepted community aim.
Because "Anonymous" doesn't give a citation for the US Federal Court judgment mentioned, I cannot comment on what he/she asserts.
However, the recent Michael Berger v City of Seattle case was principally argued on the basis of the legality or otherwise of city permits required for street performers.
See:
http://www.morelaw.com/verdicts/case.asp?n=05-35752&s=WA&d=40488
In response to ‘anonymous’.
The article was not written from emotion. It was written from fact.
The fact is I have collected hundreds of these balloons from a local beach – you are welcome to view them at your leisure.
The fact is most of these are not small fragments – some are still partially inflated. The fact is they have not disintegrated – even though they have travelled long distances. And certainly the plastic clip and attached ribbons have not degraded. In fact none of the balloons, clips or ribbons I have collected have significantly broken down – they are still the same as when I collected them.
These are also not water balloons discarded by children – in fact I rarely see small children in the area where I collect these balloons because of the 1k walk to get there. The beach where I collect these balloons is an isolated area beside a large National Park, which in itself is a disturbing fact because it shows the impact of discarded litter is a long way from its source.
I am sorry if you think this is an attack on your profession or your business – that is not the purpose of the article. The article was written in an attempt to reduce the litter/pollution in our oceans. It is a fact that marine and coastal animals are eating the litter. I have seen sufficient evidence to convince me that all litter poses a threat to the animals that ingest it, whether through toxicity, malnutrition or mechanical blockage. I don’t concede that some litter is not as harmful as other litter and is therefore somehow acceptable.
Clarencegirl
Not "mired in emotion" at all just doing my best to educate as your posts are helping to do.
When speaking about the "emotion" of the issue - it was not directed at your case in particular but at what we have seen happen over and over again throughout the world for decades. Statements being made (often by school children or well meaning organizations) and legislation then being passed with no accounting for the facts. I am sure your NSW legislation is very well intended, however not differentiating between latex and foil balloons is the problem when talking about professionally organized balloon releases. Foil balloons - plastic - are not used in these releases and should not be lumped together as latex balloons are 100% biodegradeable and do not fall in the catagory of persistent litter.
We are on the same page in terms of weighting any and all balloons that are foil, have ribbons or any other attachment.
The court case mentioned in the previous post was:
Progressive Animal Welfare Society vs. The Rouse Company
United States District Court Oct. 20th 1988
Imelda
Please read the above to understand my comments about the misinformation about latex balloons being furtherd from an emotional standpoint rather than fact - this statement was not referring to your article.
Plastic clips, ribbon etc. again please read above. My comments about water balloons is based on my experience of studying trash that came from numerous beach clean up campaigns where a large percentage of the balloons found were in fact from this practice.
I do not consider your article an attack on anyones business.
I have done my best to point all who have responded to these posts to the facts regarding latex balloons and the toll misinformation has taken on the industry in general throughout the years. Your opinions on litter - what comprises it and the varying degrees of harm it can cause is well noted.
I think that this important debate could be brought into a clearer perspective if 'Anonymous' could let us know which balloon company or PR agency he or she is working for.
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