Are the balloons released before the Indy 500 really safe? We tested them.

CLOSE IndyStar's Emily Hopkins shares findings from an 11-month experiment to see how fast balloons biodegrade, ahead of the Indy 500 balloon release. Jenna Watson, jenna.watson@indystar.com

Even the Balloon Council, which represents the industry, changed its stance on balloon releases last year from neutral to opposed. The group now recommends that balloons be weighted or tied down, and then popped and disposed of after they're used. Ahead of the balloon release last year, IndyStar received complaints and Damron defended the tradition, highlighting its use of balloons that are “are 100 percent biodegradable" and made from natural rubber latex.

The final pair of balloons – the pair exposed to the actual elements – fared much worse. The one that was under the compost pile is much more brittle and less elastic than the unexposed balloons. Even though Indiana is virtually landlocked, Nelson said, the balloons released here can find their way to the ocean.Katie Register, a executive director at Clean Virginia Waterways at Longwood University, was not surprised to hear that the balloon in the compost pile was the most degraded. That’s where the material would have been much more exposed to bacteria.

According to the study, balloons found along Virginia beaches may have been released as many as 1,400 miles away, based on the graphics printed on the balloons.

Obviously. 20 years ago. Hello common sense. dotherightthing Indianapolis500

Horrible for the environment and a waste of precious helium? Nix it!

Of course they should! Why is this even a question?

Uh, hell yes! Discontinue this pointless practice that only adds to the gigantic toxic litter footprint humankind leaves on this planet everyday. I’m amazed people can watch this activity in awe. It’s disheartening. This is a no-brainer

Dah yes SO bad for the environment

Yes, the balloons do not degrade quickly and cause problems to the environment.

No brainer, wtf? 'Advanced' species coming through asking these questions.

Who cares

Save trees, stop printing newspapers.

All these balloons end up in oceans & rivers killing our marine life. Stop this practice.

We're running out of helium, but sure waste tons of it on an event that burns millions of gallons of petrol and spews monstrous amounts of pollution into the air so a bunch of yokels can watch cars drive in a circle for hours.

YES! Unless they go find every last one of them for recycling. On top of that there is a dwindling amount of helium available.

OMG! The world is being destroyed by balloons...

100% yes.

Ban fun

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