Sky Lanterns, Beautiful but Harmful

SKY LANTERNS, BEAUTIFUL BUT HARMFUL

By Kelly Wallace

Each decade, our understanding of the natural community and how we can help protect it increases significantly. We are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were regarding conservation than we were in the 1970’s. Some traditions and customs we grew up with still linger despite being proven environmentally harmful. The iconic quote from the movie 1988 Mystic Pizza, “Don’t monkey with tradition,” doesn’t hold tight anymore as we have become so much wiser and know-to-question practices that offer short-lived entertainment at a price to people, property, animals, or the environment.

Just as the use of fireworks is under scrutiny by concerned citizens and communities provincially and globally, so is the growing trend towards launching sky lanterns into the night sky for holidays and to celebrate or commemorate events.

About Sky Lanterns

Sky lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns, floating lanterns, fire lanterns, flying lanterns, or Kǒngmíng lanterns, originated in China and are rooted in cultural traditions that stretch back 2000 years. Although steeped in history, even a time-honored tradition has to be called into question when discovered to cause harm to the environment; it’s more important to keep the planet and its inhabitants healthy and safe than to hold steadfast to a way of doing something because its tradition.

The shapes may vary slightly, but all sky lanterns are structurally the same, with paper or similar thin material wrapped around a bamboo, wire, or plastic frame to form the lantern shell that houses a candle or small fuel cell. The heat from the burning flame can burn for 20 to 40 minutes and lift a lantern high into the air. Some reports indicate they can reach 800 meters and float for several kilometers. Sky lanterns can range from a few centimeters across to one or two meters. Once the flame extinguishes, the lantern falls back to the ground, becoming hazardous. Because there is no way of knowing where lanterns will come down, if a sky lantern falls to the ground while still burning, it can start a fire in a wooded area, amongst vegetation, a crop field, a livestock pen, private property, or even a dwelling.

The popularity of sky lanterns has increased in recent years for celebrations and as a replacement for fireworks displays. Unfortunately, despite the best intentions, choosing sky lanterns over fireworks is not the best choice; it merely trades one set of concerns for a similar set. Even made of paper, sky lanterns are bad for the environment because they pose a potential fire hazard, contribute to littering, and harm to pets, livestock, and wildlife. Although it is beautiful to see tens, hundreds, and even thousands of sky lanterns floating above a still lake and into the night sky, it is hard to appreciate such a sight if one truly understands its risks.

How long it takes for a sky lantern to biodegrade depends on the materials used to make it and whether it was oiled, painted, or decorated. The fire source is rarely biodegradable, with bargain-priced candles and paraffin wax readily available. With no construction regulations, DIY lanterns and mass-produced lanterns sold cheaply could include any number of materials, such as plastics and chemicals that act as accelerants or non-flame retardant materials, increasing potential hazards.

Sky Lanterns Are Not A Good Choice

Although some people may view these lanterns as a safe alternative to fireworks, the basic principle of what goes up must come down still applies, and with it, some concerns include:

Air Pollution: Although sky lanterns are not a significant cause of air pollution compared to other sources like vehicles or industrial processes, burning fuel cells in these lanterns releases some pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution.

Aviation Risk: Sky lanterns threaten aviation safety, especially in areas near airports or flight paths. The floating lanterns can be sucked into aircraft engines or interfere with navigation systems, potentially causing accidents. An additional risk to aviation or patrolled waters is that sky lanterns may cause the deployment of a false rescue mission if mistaken for a flare set off as a distress signal.

Fire Hazard: Sky lanterns are tiny autonomous hot air balloons with an open flame. This flame can ignite the lantern or nearby objects, leading to fires in fields, forests, or buildings. These fires can harm people, pets, livestock, wildlife, vegetation, and crops and damage ecosystems and property.

Littering: When sky lanterns descend after their flight, they can land anywhere, including rural or urban areas. The paper, wires, and fuel cells used in sky lanterns contribute to littering and polluting the environment. Sky lantern litter takes time to decompose. Some frames are composed of bamboo, wire, and some plastic. Discarded wireframes have strangled and maimed livestock and wild animals.

Water Contamination: Sky lanterns that fall into lakes, rivers, wetlands, etc., can contaminate the water and affect the health of the fish, loons, turtles, otters, and all manner of wildlife that inhabit or drink from it.

Wildlife Impact: Aquatic, terrestrial, and avian species are known to ingest discarded remnants of all types, confusing them with food and thinking it is edible, which can lead to ingestion and potential harm, injury, or death. Additionally, foreign materials in habitats can negatively affect wildlife populations and disrupt ecosystems.

Due to these environmental and safety concerns, many regions have banned or regulated sky lantern use to mitigate negative impacts. Alternatives such as LED or drone light displays are more environmentally friendly alternatives for celebrations or events. However, introducing lighting sequencing into the night sky can negatively affect birds, bats, and other wildlife. Artificial lighting at night affects navigation, breeding, physiology, and general health. Ideally, the absolute best way to celebrate or commemorate an event is to forgo sending anything into the air, star gazing, and making holidays, celebrations, or gatherings about spending quality time with family, friends, co-workers, etc., in a way that forges cherished memories, all of which are entirely possible to do in an environmentally safe manner.

Letting go of traditional practices such as fireworks displays or launching sky lanterns may seem disappointing, but take it as an opportunity to introduce a new tradition that helps the environment, and everyone can feel good about being a part of it.

To contact the author, e-mail thinkturtle@yahoo.com or visit the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative website at http://www.thinkturtle.ca

Newspaper Article (Print): Wallace, K. (2024, February 21). Sky lanterns, beautiful but harmful.
The Bancroft Times, p. 4 – 5.

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