An environmental initiative in Brazil is using human hair to create floating barriers designed to absorb oil and other pollutants from coastal waters.
The project, developed by Brazilian non-governmental organisation Fiotrar, is being tested in Enseada de Bom Jesus along Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro. The area has faced decades of pollution linked to heavy maritime traffic, illegal discharges and other sources.
The idea was inspired by similar technologies already used in countries including Chile and the United States. Human hair has natural properties that allow it to absorb oil, making discarded salon hair a potentially useful material for cleaning polluted water.
The hair is packed into cylindrical structures known as “eco blankets” or filters. These are attached to existing floating rubbish barriers, allowing them to remain in the water and capture oil, biodiesel and other contaminants.
According to the project team, the barriers can remain in the sea for up to four months while collecting pollutants from vessels and other sources.
Around a dozen hair salons are currently donating cut hair that is unsuitable for wig making. The initiative sees salons as an important source of raw material because large quantities of hair are discarded every day.
Animal fur can also be used for oil absorption, providing another potential material for similar pollution control systems.
The project was founded by Mariana Robrahn, who previously launched Cabelegria in 2013, a charity initiative that uses donated hair to produce wigs for cancer patients.
Guanabara Bay was selected for testing because of its long standing pollution problems and intense maritime activity. Local fishermen say oil contamination has affected their livelihoods and marine life.
Fisherman Sérgio Carvalho told AP that oil spills frequently interfere with fishing activities, with contamination affecting surface waters and extending deeper into the bay. He said the pollution contributes to the disappearance of fish from affected areas.
Environmental groups and fishing communities hope the hair based barriers can help reduce pollution and support the recovery of marine ecosystems.
The initiative demonstrates how an everyday waste material can potentially be repurposed into a low cost tool for tackling marine pollution. Further testing will determine how effectively the barriers can perform under different environmental conditions and how the collected pollutants can be safely handled and disposed of.