Where do the balloons go

It was my 5 year old daughters kindergarden graduation last week and there were gifts and balloons given out. When we were leaving one of the childrens balloon got away on them and floated up and away. My daughter then came out with the words "the coral reef will be dead tommorrow". I had a little trouble putting the two together. It turns out that she was studying coral reefs in school and learnt that a lot of balloons that are released end up in the ocean and can harm the coral reefs. I had often wondered where weather balloons ended up. I guess it is very possible that a high percentage end up in the ocean and cause harm to fish that support the coral reefs.
What impressed me about this is that environmental awarness is being taught in the schools and the kids are thinking about it.

Randy Shipalesky