Impact of balloon releases

Since then, several local authorities have banned balloon releases and the Marine Conservation Society is lobbying others to follow suit.

Are balloon releases environmentally friendly?

According to some, balloon releasing is environmentally benign as balloons themselves are made from latex, a completely biodegradable material that breaks down quite quickly in sunlight.

Once released, balloons have a typical life of only three hours as atmospheric conditions soon get to work on breaking down the latex.

Some research suggests most balloons should have completely degraded in about six months.

However, the Marine Conservation Society has performed its own research, which suggests that balloons degrade much more slowly in seawater.

When balloon fallout floats around on the surface of the sea, it can look like a jellyfish to animals and birds that feed on floating prey.

Marine turtles are particularly vulnerable and there have been several instances of turtles being washed ashore in very poor health due to swallowing balloons.

Swallowed balloons can get trapped in the gut of marine animals, meaning that they eventually starve to death.

The persistence of latex in seawater may be in excess of 12 months, meaning that a floating balloon may be available for plenty of time to cause damage.

There is also evidence that balloon material is increasingly being washed up on Britain's beaches, with a tripling of reported finds over the last 10 years from beach litter surveys.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Marine Conservation Society's campaign to stop balloon releases, take a look at their website at www.mcsuk.org.

Do you think Adur and Worthing should adopt a voluntary ban on balloon releases?

I would be interested to hear your views.

Have your say

Comment in the space below, email Paul using the link in his name above, or write to us at Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.

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