Latex versus Metallic balloons

The ballooning issue

by: María José Chiriboga and Arianna Moeller

Introduction

Companies produce two types of balloons:

What happens when animals ingest pieces of balloons

Degradation process of metallic balloons

• Studies show that the ingestion of balloon materials are not likely to threaten the animal´s intestine or trachea.
• The harm they produce relies mostly in the strings or ribbons that people attach to the balloons because animals can get caught. (As shown in video)
• Since latex balloons degenerate slowly when exposed to water, marine life is more likely to be threaten.

Effect of ballon´s ribbons and strings in animals

• They are recycable but not biodegradable.
• Mylar balloons are coated with polyethylyne and metallic materials that are comprised and heat-sealed together.
• The surface is non porous, meaning that helium can only be leaked from the neck of the balloon.
• The balloon is not broken into smaller pieces.
• Since the metallic materials do not degrade, the drawbacks of this type of balloon are more harmful than those of latex balloons.

Latex balloons: They are made from natural rubber and they are biodegradable. It takes around 4 years for one to disintegrate completely.

Metallic balloons: They are also called "Foil or Mylar," which are made from a metal coated plastic such as polyethylene or nylon. Metallic balloons are not biodegradable.

Suggest an alternate investment of funds to celebrate graduation.

Degradation process of latex balloons.

What happens when helium filled balloons are released in the atmosphere.

• A creative way to celebrate our graduation can be by creating kites, which will be colorful as balloons.
• Kites don´t present any threat because they are not released into the atmosphere .
• Even though, materials such as paper are used for their construction, the kites can be used more than twice

Bibliography

• Exposure to higher doses of UV radiation.
• Exposure to sunlight that contribute to the balloon's oxidation.
• Balloon experiments a change in color from bright to dull.

Degradation process compared to a leave when exposed to water

Degradation process compared to a leave when exposed to soil and sunlight

• Burchette, D. (1989). A study on the effect of balloon releases in the environment. Retrieved on september, 10, 2013 from: http://www.theballooncouncil.org/pdf/balloon-release-study.pdf
• Cimbal, Kelina (1990). New York Times. The effects of ballon sin the environment. Retrieved September 10, 2013 from: http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/04/nyregion/l-the-effect-of-balloons-on-the-environment-423590.html
• NABS (2007). About balloons. Retrieved September 10, 2013 from: http://www.nabas.co.uk/about-balloons/
• Longwood University. (2011). Ballons as a litter- a problem we can solve. Retrieved on september 10, 2013 from: http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/balloons.htm

• As altitude increases, temperature and atmospheric pressure decrease, causing the balloon to increment its diameter.
• latex balloons:
• The rubber is stretched to its limit and eventually the balloon undergoes a process of brittle fracture and it explodes .
• Metallic balloons:
• The balloon does not explode and eventually it will come back to ground.

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