Human hair barriers deployed to combat ocean oil pollution in Brazil

An innovative environmental project is utilizing human hair to construct barriers aimed at protecting Brazil's coastlines from oil spills and plastic pollution. The initiative, spearheaded by Mariana Robrahn, founder of the NGO Fiotrar, involves attaching cylinders packed with donated hair, known as 'eco blankets,' to existing floating rubbish containment systems.

These hair barriers are designed to trap oil, biodiesel, and other contaminants originating from vessels, illegal discharges, and various pollution sources. They can remain deployed in the ocean for up to four months. The project draws on a readily available raw material, with numerous hair salons in Brazil donating cut hair that would otherwise be discarded. Animal fur is also being considered as a filtering material.

Tests for the project have been conducted in Enseada de Bom Jesus, within Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, an area heavily impacted by maritime traffic and pollution. Local fisherman Sérgio Carvalho highlighted the severe impact of oil spills on their work, noting that the contamination affects marine life and causes fish to disappear.

The environmental engineer Ana Beatriz Gonçalves oversees the weekly maintenance of these new barriers, while chemist Caroline Carvalho explained their function in capturing pollutants. The hope among environmental groups and the fishing community is that these hair barriers will contribute to restoring the bay's ecosystems and significantly reducing pollution levels. This technology has previously been implemented in countries like Chile and the United States.