Most of these balloons are those falsely marketed by the balloon industry as “biodegradable latex.” All photos were taken by Balloons Blow on Hutchinson Island, Florida, USA – unless otherwise noted. All photos with citations may be used for education purposes.
Balloons Blow Gallery 27
Seal Tangled in Balloon Ribbon
"Ahoy Mateys" - don't pollute with ballons
Hutchinson Island, Florida
Balloon Pollution
Hutchinson Island, Florida
Mylar in sargassum
Hutchinson Island, Florida
Shearwater chick
The Save our Shearwaters team removed a purple and white balloon from an Australian shearwater chick last week. The parent of this bird collected the balloons off the ocean’s surface mistaking them for prey. When exposed to digestive enzymes, balloons (silicone, latex, or otherwise) become a horrible sticky mess and block the digestive tract.
Photo: Jennifer Lavers
Photo: Jennifer Lavers
Latex Balloon String
Balloon string woven in sargassum.
Single-use Plastic Pollution
Hutchinson Island, Florida
Latex Balloon "Jellyfish"
Balloons like jellyfish and mistaken by marine life as food.
Balloon in Fulmar stomach
Stomach contents of a Northern Fulmar that had ingested a large piece of weather balloon (grey), a common party balloon (purple) and a range of other plastic debris. In this type of extreme case, the balloon rubber will have completely blocked the bird’s digestive tract.
Photo: IMARES Wageningen UR
Photo: IMARES Wageningen UR
Latex Balloon Pollution
This isn't "pick up sticks."
Shredded Latex Balloon
Hutchinson Island, Florida
latex balloon & ribbon entangled with rope
Hutchinson Island, Florida
Shredded Latex Balloon & Ribbon
Hutchinson Island, Florida
Balloon Pollution
Hutchinson Island, Florida
Photo credit: L. Smith
Cape May New Jersey USA
American Cancer Society - Relay for Life
American Cancer Society has repeatedly been made aware of the dangers of helium-filled balloons but continue to use them in their commercials & receive funds from balloon release fundraisers.
Photo: N. Pelletier, Misquamicut Beach, RI
Cattle egret consuming a latex balloon
Photo credit: Pam Bedsole