Wrong tribute

You report (22 January) that “more than 1,000 people are to release balloons from the banks of the Forth in Edinburgh and Fife in tribute to Mikael [Kular] on Friday”.

I strongly support people in their wish to express sympathy, but plead with them to think of a less environmentally damaging way of doing it.

Balloons can cause serious environmental damage wherever they land, especially to dolphins and other marine life. They are rubbish, though I appreciate it doesn’t feel like that as you drop them upwards.

(Prof) Denis 
Mollison

Inveresk