Discarded salon hair is being transformed into an oil-absorbing barrier that protects mangroves from oil spills in Rio de Janeiro

When scientists have a will, there is always a way. In a shocking yet successful project, leftover hair from haircuts that is not suitable for wigs and would have gone to waste is now being used to prevent oil and other pollutants from getting into the water and the trees.In Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay, a barrier made from human hair discarded by beauty salons is being used to prevent pollution. It can remain in the water for up to four months, according to a report by Euronews. The project is being helmed by Brazilian non-governmental organisation Fiotrar, founded by Mariana Robrahn.The principle behind the solutions is physical and logical. Each gram of hair can absorb about five grams of oil, and this capacity transforms an abundant waste into a containment material. The technology has already been used in other countries, such as Chile and the United States, and has been adapted for Brazil by the NGO.Why hair attracts oilWhen the material comes into contact with an oil spill, the oil adheres to the hair’s surface, and the water runs off.The behaviour of the hair in the presence of oil is what makes the entire project worthy and viable. Human hair is oleophilic, meaning it ha...