Bursting your balloons and caring for pets.

Why is it bad for the environment to release balloons into the air? --George Young, New York, NY

Given that "what goes up must come down;' balloons released into the air--whether by accident or in large quantities at events--eventually end up as trash on the ground or in bodies of water. In addition, spent balloons are dangerous to animals, which often get tangled up in the attached ribbons or mistake balloons for prey and ingest them, wreaking havoc with their digestive tracts.

According to Clean Virginia Waterways, floating balloons--which may look like delicious jellyfish to unsuspecting sea creatures--are responsible for the deaths of thousands of sea turtles, dolphins, fish and seabirds, many whose populations are already endangered.

Industry groups such as the Balloon Council claim that balloons pose no environmental threat because they are constructed of biodegradable latex. However, latex takes at least six months to break down in the environment. The Balloon Council dismisses arguments that balloons are either polluting or injurious to wildlife. Meanwhile, mylar balloons are not biodegradable and can be toxic to wildlife.

Interestingly, the Balloon Council labels as "misinformation" claims that wildlife can be injured by ingesting balloons, yet duly warns on its website that young children "may choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons."

According to the Michigan Environmental Council, which coordinated one recent beach clean-up event where volunteers picked up more than 4,500 discarded balloons along the shores of Lake Michigan, the solution to the problem is simple: "Don't participate in balloon releases, and don't use balloons as decorations during outside events."

Mass release of balloons is illegal in several states. Great Britain's Marine Conservation Society is asking corporate and government event planners in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to sign onto a voluntary ban. CONTACT: Balloon Council, [phone], www.balloonhq.com/BalloonCouncil; Marine Conservation Society, www.mcsuk.org; Michigan Environmental Council, [phone], www.mecprotects.org.

What kind of environmentally friendly pet-care products are there for controlling ticks and fleas and washing dogs and cats?--Jeannette Peclet, Norwalk, CT

Australian veterinarian Lilian Lee argues that pets metabolize most of the insecticide contained in mass-marketed flea collars, making the concentration so weak it hardly has any effect on fleas. Furthermore, many pets can develop allergies to such collars, often resulting in uncomfortable dermatitis. Lee also recommends avoiding flea washes and dust powders, as they usually contain toxins that have been known to cause tremors in cats and can contaminate your indoor environment.

For those looking to rid their pets of fleas and other pests in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, "area sprays" may be the best bet. Orange Guard, for instance, is a nontoxic, food-grade pesticide that can be safely sprayed into pet bedding. Available from online sources like the Green Home Environmental Store and Planet Natural, the active ingredient in Orange Guard is biodegradable, citrus-based d-Limonene, which has been shown to reduce cockroach populations better than Dursban, the toxic ingredient in Raid.

Another alternative is Bug'n'Out, a natural, nontoxic biting insect repellent spray that uses a four percent concentration of citronella oil to safely and effectively repel fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, biting flies and chiggers. According to the manufacturer, it is safe for pets and people. Consumers can buy it from DoctorDog.com, which also sells the One Earth Herbal Collar for Cats, which uses aromatic oil extracts of natural herbs, flowers and wood to repel bugs without pesticides.

Yet another alternative is Only Natural Pet Flea and Insect Repellent Spray, available from the online Only Natural Pet Store. It contains neem oil, lemongrass, catnip, citronella and other essential oils to keep pests away. Only Natural also makes a Pet Insect Repellent Shampoo. CONTACT: Green Home Environmental Store, [phone], www.greenhome.com; Only Natural Pet Store, [phone], www.onlynaturalpet.com; Orange Guard, [phone], www.orangeguard.com; Planet Natural, [phone], www.planetnatural.com.

Send your questions about environmental issues, from the personal to the political, to EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881, or e-mail [e-mail]. Include your full name, address and a daytime phone number.

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