140421 - Latex balloons do not degrade uniformly in freshwater, marine and composting_OA.pdf (939.01 kB)
Latex balloons do not degrade uniformly in freshwater, marine and composting environments
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 16:58 authored by Morgan Gilmour, Jennifer LaversLatex balloons are a poorly-studied aspect of anthropogenic pollution that affects wildlife survival, aesthetic value of waterways, and may adsorb and leach chemicals. Pure latex needs to be vulcanised with sulphur and requires many additional compounds to manufacture high quality balloons. Yet, balloons are often marketed as “biodegradable”, which is confusing to consumers. Due to the persistence of latex balloons in the environment and the lethal, documented threat to wildlife, degradation behaviours of latex balloons were quantified in freshwater, saltwater and industrial compost. Using the metrics mass change, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and superficial composition via attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), latex balloon degradation was documented for 16 weeks. Overall, latex balloons retained their original shape and size. Composted balloons lost 1-2% mass, but some balloons in freshwater gained mass, likely due to osmotic processes. Balloons’ UTS decreased from 30.7 ± 10.8 to 9.5 ± 4.1 Newtons in water, but remained constant (34.3 ± 13.4 N) in compost. ATR-FTIR spectra illustrated compositional and temporal differences between treatments. Taken together, latex balloons did not meaningfully degrade in freshwater, saltwater, or compost indicating that when released into the environment, they will continue to contribute to anthropogenic litter and pose a threat to wildlife that ingest them.
Funding
Donation via University of Tasmania Foundation
Zoos Victoria
History
Publication title
Journal of Hazardous MaterialsVolume
403Article number
123629Number
123629Pagination
1-10ISSN
0304-3894Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Elsevier Science BvPlace of publication
Po Box 211, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1000 AeRights statement
Copyright 2020 ElsevierRepository Status
- Open