Guest Post by Ariane Lemaire – NC Youth for Clear Skies and Sea
A dead whale calf; a wildfire; strangled birds. What do these tragedies have in common? Balloons. Often released to celebrate events or mark memorials, balloons burst from atmospheric pressure, deflate, or pop. When foil or Mylar balloons hit electrical lines, they cause power outages or spark flames – this phenomenon triggered a 7,567 acre wildfire in Georgia this April.
Balloon Litter
While latex balloons are often greenwashed as “biodegradable,” research studies found this to be untrue. Latex balloons break down into microplastics and shed hazardous materials like flame retardants and preservatives, remaining in the environment and jeopardizing wildlife like their foil or Mylar counterparts.
Animals frequently confuse balloons for food. When eaten, they clog stomachs and prevent digestion of real food, causing slow starvation. Balloons were found to be 32 times deadlier to seabirds than other plastics and are especially perilous to sea turtles who mistake them for jellyfish. Inland animals aren’t exempt from danger: sheep, horses, and songbirds have been killed by balloons.
How can we stop the preventable devastation?
I’m Ariane Lemaire, a long-time Triangle resident, Duke University Rachel Carson Scholar, Marine Plastics Ambassador with EarthEcho International, Endangered Species Coalition Advisor, and Balloon Mission NC Environmental Community Affairs Coordinator. I created ClearSkiesandSeas.com, a website for North Carolinians to report balloon pollution and download free educational resources for farmers and children. Covered by WRAL News and supported by 17 NC and US organizations, communities from all backgrounds can get behind less litter.
Instead of releasing balloons, we can blow plant-based bubbles, use paper-based décor, and grow native plants. While a released balloon hurts wildlife, gardens enhance landscapes and provide habitat or food. Balloon release bans also raise awareness and are shown to reduce balloon litter by 20%. Over a dozen North Carolina towns have banned balloon releases to protect wildlife.
A plethora of alternatives exist: next time you look into the sky, envision a bright future where people and creatures we steward are safe.
