Brief description
Latex balloons act like plastic in the ocean: they can travel far from their point of origin on atmospheric and water currents and float at the sea surface where they can be eaten by wildlife that mistake it for food. This study quantified the degradation behaviours of latex balloons in saltwater, freshwater, and industrial compost windrows over 16 weeks. The degradation of latex balloons was quantified with bi-weekly measurements of 1) changes in mass; 2) ultimate tensile strength; and 3) changes in surficial composition of balloons via attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). This study tested whether degradation differed between two balloon colours (blue and white) and whether degradation differed between balloons whose packaging labels included the word "biodegradable" and balloons whose packaging did not contain the word "biodegradable", and were thus labeled as "traditional" balloons. Thus, these data consist of 1) mass measurements; 2) load-extension data used to determine ultimate tensile strength; and 3) ATR-FTIR spectra of latex balloons across the variables balloon type (biodegradable; traditional), colour (blue; white), and week sampled (0-16 weeks). Also included are measurements of balloons that did not undergo treatments and are either straight out of the package ("new") or balloons that were inflated but did not undergo any treatments ("inflated").Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: Balloon purchase & preparation: Blue and white latex balloons with packaging containing the word "biodegradable" and with packaging that did not contain the word "biodegradable" (hereafter referred to as "traditional") were purchased locally (Tasmania, Australia) and on the Internet. Balloons were inflated to 25 cm diameter with air, sealed with knots, and tied to a cotton rope outdoors with a 100% wool string. Balloons were hung outside for a minimum of 6 hr to simulate typical use. Balloons were deflated by cutting a 1 cm hole near the knot to allow air to escape slowly without the balloon bursting. Wool strings were removed and balloons were weighed to the nearest 0.0000 g on an analytical balance. Balloons were then deployed in one of three treatments: freshwater, saltwater, or industrial compost. Balloons deployed in freshwater and saltwater treatments had individual identification numbers assigned to them to aid in pairwise measurements of mass.
Treatments: Latex balloons in freshwater and saltwater treatments were deployed into outdoor glass water tanks at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies Aquaculture Facility at the University of Tasmania (Newnham, Tasmania, Australia) with aeration stones to maintain water movement and oxygenation. Biodegradable and traditional balloons were placed in separate tanks. Freshwater was sourced from locally collected rainwater (pH=7.0) and prefiltered (0.2 micrometers) saltwater was obtained from the Tamar River, for which salinity was increased from 31-32 ppt to 35 ppt as needed with incremental additions of sodium chloride. Latex balloons in the industrial compost treatment were placed in compost windrows at McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre (South Hobart, Tasmania, Australia). Biodegradable and traditional balloons were placed in separate windrows. Compost consisted of mulch from wood chips and food and animal waste from commercial aquaculture and poultry processors. The compost was manually turned over every 14 days. Compost temperatures were not measured in this study, but in similar studies at this site, internal compost temperatures ranged 40-55°C. Balloons that did not undergo any treatments were also included in ultimate tensile strength and ATR-FTIR measurements; these balloons were either straight out of the package ("new") or they were inflated and hung outside for a minimum of 6 hr but did not undergo further treatment ("inflated").
Sampling: Latex balloons were sampled at random every 14 days from the three treatments for a total of 16 weeks. Ten balloons of each color and each balloon type were sampled from each treatment on each sample day, resulting in 120 balloons sampled every two weeks. Due to difficulty in locating balloons in the compost, sample sizes for the compost treatment could sometimes be smaller than 10 balloons per color per balloon type in a given week. After sampling, balloons were rinsed with tap water and dried under a vacuum vent for 96 hr.
Mass: Mass was measured to the nearest 0.0000 g on an analytical balance (Model GR-202, A & D Company, Limited, Japan) after balloons were completely dry.
Ultimate Tensile Strength: Ultimate tensile strength was determined with a Universal Testing Machine (Hounsfield Test Equipment, UK), generally following ASTM D638-14. Testing parameters were as follows: speed=100 mm/min, using 5% of the total load of the machine. A computer interface recorded extension and load data at a rate of 10 points per second.
Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR): Measurements were collected on randomly selected location on the insides and the outsides of latex balloons with an Agilent 4500a FTIR (model 0021-010, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, California USA) with a single-reflection diamond ATR crystal. 32 scans were co-added at a spectral resolution of 8 cm-1 in the 4000-6500 cm-1 range with a Happ-Genzel apodization, resulting in each spectrum having 901 data points. Background measurements were taken every 10 minutes.
Treatments: Latex balloons in freshwater and saltwater treatments were deployed into outdoor glass water tanks at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies Aquaculture Facility at the University of Tasmania (Newnham, Tasmania, Australia) with aeration stones to maintain water movement and oxygenation. Biodegradable and traditional balloons were placed in separate tanks. Freshwater was sourced from locally collected rainwater (pH=7.0) and prefiltered (0.2 micrometers) saltwater was obtained from the Tamar River, for which salinity was increased from 31-32 ppt to 35 ppt as needed with incremental additions of sodium chloride. Latex balloons in the industrial compost treatment were placed in compost windrows at McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre (South Hobart, Tasmania, Australia). Biodegradable and traditional balloons were placed in separate windrows. Compost consisted of mulch from wood chips and food and animal waste from commercial aquaculture and poultry processors. The compost was manually turned over every 14 days. Compost temperatures were not measured in this study, but in similar studies at this site, internal compost temperatures ranged 40-55°C. Balloons that did not undergo any treatments were also included in ultimate tensile strength and ATR-FTIR measurements; these balloons were either straight out of the package ("new") or they were inflated and hung outside for a minimum of 6 hr but did not undergo further treatment ("inflated").
Sampling: Latex balloons were sampled at random every 14 days from the three treatments for a total of 16 weeks. Ten balloons of each color and each balloon type were sampled from each treatment on each sample day, resulting in 120 balloons sampled every two weeks. Due to difficulty in locating balloons in the compost, sample sizes for the compost treatment could sometimes be smaller than 10 balloons per color per balloon type in a given week. After sampling, balloons were rinsed with tap water and dried under a vacuum vent for 96 hr.
Mass: Mass was measured to the nearest 0.0000 g on an analytical balance (Model GR-202, A & D Company, Limited, Japan) after balloons were completely dry.
Ultimate Tensile Strength: Ultimate tensile strength was determined with a Universal Testing Machine (Hounsfield Test Equipment, UK), generally following ASTM D638-14. Testing parameters were as follows: speed=100 mm/min, using 5% of the total load of the machine. A computer interface recorded extension and load data at a rate of 10 points per second.
Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR): Measurements were collected on randomly selected location on the insides and the outsides of latex balloons with an Agilent 4500a FTIR (model 0021-010, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, California USA) with a single-reflection diamond ATR crystal. 32 scans were co-added at a spectral resolution of 8 cm-1 in the 4000-6500 cm-1 range with a Happ-Genzel apodization, resulting in each spectrum having 901 data points. Background measurements were taken every 10 minutes.
Notes
CreditZoos Victoria, funding
Credit
Hobart City Council Waste Management Grant, funding
Hobart City Council Waste Management Grant, funding
Credit
The Pay Me Group, funding
The Pay Me Group, funding
Credit
US-to-Australia Graduate Education Scholarship, American Australian Association, funding
US-to-Australia Graduate Education Scholarship, American Australian Association, funding
Credit
D. Haines, Agilent Technologies, use and advice regarding ATR-FTIR
D. Haines, Agilent Technologies, use and advice regarding ATR-FTIR
Credit
M. Adams, IMAS UTAS, access and logistical support to IMAS UTAS Aquaculture Facility
M. Adams, IMAS UTAS, access and logistical support to IMAS UTAS Aquaculture Facility
Credit
M. Leef, IMAS UTAS, access and logistical support to IMAS UTAS laboratories
M. Leef, IMAS UTAS, access and logistical support to IMAS UTAS laboratories
Credit
J. Holmes and D. Suter, McRobies Waste Management Centre, access and logistical support to composting space
J. Holmes and D. Suter, McRobies Waste Management Centre, access and logistical support to composting space
Credit
C. Gerard, D. Holloway, A. Bylett, UTAS Engineering Department, access and logistical support for tensile strength measurements
C. Gerard, D. Holloway, A. Bylett, UTAS Engineering Department, access and logistical support for tensile strength measurements
Credit
Detached Cultural Organization, funding
Detached Cultural Organization, funding
Created: 2020-04-28
Data time period: 2019-09-04 to 2019-12-12
text: westlimit=147.114326477; southlimit=-41.4071462042; eastlimit=147.132865906; northlimit=-41.3942165201
text: westlimit=147.264830589; southlimit=-42.8999107006; eastlimit=147.311179161; northlimit=-42.8810453904
Subjects
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS |
BEACHES |
Biological Sciences |
BIOSPHERE |
CONSERVATION |
Conservation and Biodiversity |
DECOMPOSITION |
EARTH SCIENCE |
EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOSYSTEMS | ANTHROPOGENIC/HUMAN INFLUENCED ECOSYSTEMS |
EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOSYSTEMS | FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS |
EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOSYSTEMS | MARINE ECOSYSTEMS |
EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOSYSTEMS | MARINE ECOSYSTEMS | PELAGIC |
ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS |
Ecology |
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS |
ECOTOXICOLOGY |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS |
Environmental Science and Management |
Environmental Sciences |
HUMAN DIMENSIONS |
Latex balloon ATR-FTIR absorbance |
Latex balloon ATR-FTIR wavelengths |
Latex balloon extension-load for tensile strengh determination |
Latex balloon extension-load for tensile strength determination |
Latex balloon mass |
Marine and Estuarine Ecology (Incl. Marine Ichthyology) |
RECYCLING |
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR |
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS |
anthropogenic debris |
compost |
oceans |
pollution |
polymer |
User Contributed Tags
Login to tag this record with meaningful keywords to make it easier to discover
Other Information
(DATA ACCESS - explore file index for download)
uri :
https://data.imas.utas.edu.au/attachments/1c0f1282-b8fc-4a8f-9990-2e91196a9834/
Identifiers
- global : 1c0f1282-b8fc-4a8f-9990-2e91196a9834
- DOI : 10.25959/5eb21cba78c98
- DOI : https://doi.org/10.25959/5eb21cba78c98
