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

I Rio de Ja ei o's Gua aba a Bay, disca ded salo hai is bei g t a sfo med i to a oil-abso bi g ba ie that p otects ma g oves f om oil spills

Whe
scie tists
have
a
will,
the e
is
always
a
way.
I
a
shocki g
yet
successful
p oject,
leftove
hai
f om
hai cuts
that
is
ot
suitable
fo
wigs
a d
would
have
go e
to
waste
is
ow
bei g
used
to
p eve t
oil
a d
othe
polluta ts
f om
getti g
i to
the
wate
a d
the
t ees.I
Rio
de
Ja ei o’s
Gua aba a
Bay,
a
ba ie
made
f om
huma
hai
disca ded
by
beauty
salo s
is
bei g
used
to
p eve t
pollutio .
It
ca
emai
i
the
wate
fo
up
to
fou
mo ths,
acco di g
to
a
epo t
by
Eu o ews.
The
p oject
is
bei g
helmed
by
B azilia
o -gove me tal
o ga isatio
Fiot a ,
fou ded
by
Ma ia a
Rob ah .The
p i ciple
behi d
the
solutio s
is
physical
a d
logical.
Each
g am
of
hai
ca
abso b
about
five
g ams
of
oil,
a d
this
capacity
t a sfo ms
a
abu da t
waste
i to
a
co tai me t
mate ial.
The
tech ology
has
al eady
bee
used
i
othe
cou t ies,
such
as
Chile
a d
the
U ited
States,
a d
has
bee
adapted
fo
B azil
by
the
NGO.

Why
hai
att acts
oil

How is the st uctu e made?<b ><b >” msid=”133146025″ width=”” title=”While a st a d eeds to be of co side able le gth to be made i to a wig, cuts as sho t as 2.5 ce timet es a e sufficie t fo co tai me t mats.” placeholde s c=”https://static.toiimg.com/photo/83033472.cms” imgsize=”” esizemode=”4″ offsetve tical=”0″ placeholde msid=”47529300″ type=”thumb” s c=”https://static.toiimg.com/photo/83033472.cms” class=”” data-s c=”https://static.toiimg.com/photo/msid-133146025/how-is-the-st uctu e-madeb b .jpg” data-api-p e e de =”t ue”/></p>
<p>
While<br />
a<br />
st a d<br />
eeds<br />
to<br />
be<br />
of<br />
co side able<br />
le gth<br />
to<br />
be<br />
made<br />
i to<br />
a<br />
wig,<br />
cuts<br />
as<br />
sho t<br />
as<br />
2.5<br />
ce timet es<br />
a e<br />
sufficie t<br />
fo<br />
co tai me t<br />
mats.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>The<br />
hai<br />
fo<br />
the<br />
p oject<br />
is<br />
sou ced<br />
f om<br />
beauty<br />
salo s.<br />
About<br />
a<br />
doze<br />
establishme ts<br />
do ate<br />
cut<br />
hai<br />
that<br />
will<br />
ot<br />
be<br />
used<br />
fo<br />
wig-maki g,<br />
a d<br />
this<br />
su plus<br />
is<br />
what<br />
supplies<br />
the<br />
p oductio<br />
of<br />
the<br />
mats.<br />
The<br />
c ite ia<br />
fo<br />
usability<br />
a e<br />
much<br />
mo e<br />
flexible<br />
tha<br />
those<br />
fo<br />
wigs.<br />
While<br />
a<br />
st a d<br />
eeds<br />
to<br />
be<br />
of<br />
co side able<br />
le gth<br />
to<br />
be<br />
made<br />
i to<br />
a<br />
wig,<br />
cuts<br />
as<br />
sho t<br />
as<br />
2.5<br />
ce timet es<br />
a e<br />
sufficie t<br />
fo<br />
co tai me t<br />
mats.<br />
P actically<br />
all<br />
hai<br />
that<br />
falls<br />
o<br />
the<br />
salo<br />
floo<br />
ca<br />
be<br />
used,<br />
which<br />
explai s<br />
why<br />
the<br />
o ga isatio<br />
co side s<br />
the<br />
aw<br />
mate ial<br />
ea ly<br />
i exhaustible<br />
i<br />
a<br />
cou t y<br />
with<br />
the<br />
umbe<br />
of<br />
salo s<br />
B azil<br />
has.The<br />
hai<br />
is<br />
ot<br />
eleased<br />
f eely<br />
i to<br />
the<br />
wate ,<br />
as<br />
would<br />
be<br />
assumed.<br />
The<br />
st a ds<br />
a e<br />
packaged<br />
i to<br />
olls<br />
made<br />
f om<br />
cotto<br />
mesh,<br />
fo mi g<br />
cyli de s<br />
that<br />
the<br />
team<br />
i fo mally<br />
calls<br />
bla kets<br />
o<br />
sausages.<br />
These<br />
cyli de s<br />
a e<br />
the<br />
secu ed<br />
to<br />
the<br />
floati g<br />
o a ge<br />
ba ie<br />
that<br />
collects<br />
waste<br />
at<br />
the<br />
su face.<br />
Acco di g<br />
to<br />
e vi o me tal<br />
e gi ee<br />
A a<br />
Beat iz<br />
Go çalves,<br />
who<br />
is<br />
espo sible<br />
fo<br />
mai tai i g<br />
the<br />
ew<br />
ba ie s,<br />
the<br />
existi g<br />
st uctu e<br />
se ves<br />
as<br />
suppo t<br />
fo<br />
Fiot a ’s<br />
ba ie .<br />
The<br />
pa t<br />
that<br />
etai s<br />
the<br />
oil<br />
is<br />
the<br />
hai ,<br />
a d<br />
the<br />
pa t<br />
that<br />
keeps<br />
it<br />
afloat<br />
is<br />
what<br />
was<br />
al eady<br />
the e.The<br />
floati g<br />
ba ie<br />
itself<br />
co sists<br />
of<br />
sty ofoam,<br />
fab ic,<br />
laye s<br />
of<br />
geosy thetic<br />
bla kets,<br />
a d<br />
a<br />
ta pauli<br />
cove .<br />
The<br />
e ti e<br />
assembly<br />
fo ms<br />
a<br />
co ti uous<br />
li e<br />
o<br />
the<br />
wate ,<br />
a d<br />
the<br />
sce e<br />
obse ved<br />
i<br />
the<br />
bay<br />
shows<br />
these<br />
cyli de s<br />
bei g<br />
deployed<br />
f om<br />
small<br />
vessels.</p>
<p><h2>
Fou<br />
mo ths<br />
goi g</h2>
</p>
<p>The<br />
du atio<br />
is<br />
o e<br />
of<br />
the<br />
most<br />
eleva t<br />
a d<br />
otable<br />
facto s<br />
fo<br />
the<br />
ope ato s<br />
of<br />
the<br />
system.<br />
The<br />
ba ie s<br />
ca<br />
emai<br />
i<br />
the<br />
wate<br />
fo<br />
up<br />
to<br />
fou<br />
mo ths<br />
t appi g<br />
pollutio ,<br />
afte<br />
which<br />
the<br />
mate ial<br />
must<br />
be<br />
collected<br />
a d<br />
eplaced.<br />
What<br />
they<br />
captu e<br />
a d<br />
abso b<br />
du i g<br />
this<br />
pe iod<br />
is<br />
ot<br />
o ly<br />
the<br />
esult<br />
of<br />
majo<br />
accide ts.<br />
Chemist<br />
Ca oli e<br />
Ca valho,<br />
di ecto<br />
of<br />
Fiot a ,<br />
explai ed<br />
that<br />
the<br />
system<br />
captu es<br />
pollutio<br />
f om<br />
vessels,<br />
illegal<br />
discha ges,<br />
a d<br />
othe<br />
co tami atio<br />
sou ces,<br />
esse tially,<br />
the<br />
ch o ic<br />
a d<br />
eve yday<br />
leaks<br />
that<br />
a ely<br />
make<br />
headli es.<br />
Mai te a ce<br />
occu s<br />
o<br />
a<br />
weekly<br />
basis<br />
a d<br />
is<br />
ma aged<br />
by<br />
a<br />
tech ical<br />
team<br />
that<br />
mo ito s<br />
the<br />
co ditio<br />
of<br />
the<br />
mats<br />
a d<br />
the<br />
volume<br />
of<br />
oil<br />
etai ed.<br />
A<br />
hai<br />
ba ie<br />
is<br />
ot<br />
a<br />
set-a d-fo get<br />
st uctu e,<br />
a d<br />
the<br />
ope atio al<br />
cost<br />
i cludes<br />
this<br />
co ti uous<br />
mo ito i g<br />
th oughout<br />
the<br />
time<br />
it<br />
emai s<br />
i<br />
the<br />
wate .Gua aba a<br />
Bay<br />
has<br />
bee<br />
suffe i g<br />
fo<br />
decades<br />
f om<br />
va ious<br />
types<br />
of<br />
pollutio ,<br />
la gely<br />
due<br />
to<br />
heavy<br />
ma itime<br />
t affic,<br />
with<br />
ships<br />
co sta tly<br />
e te i g<br />
a d<br />
leavi g.<br />
This<br />
is<br />
why<br />
the<br />
egio<br />
became<br />
o e<br />
of<br />
the<br />
locatio s<br />
chose<br />
to<br />
test<br />
the<br />
p oject.The<br />
commu ity<br />
of<br />
fishe me<br />
feels<br />
the<br />
di ect<br />
impact<br />
of<br />
this<br />
situatio .<br />
Fishe ma<br />
Sé gio<br />
Ca valho<br />
epo ts<br />
that<br />
whe<br />
he<br />
heads<br />
out<br />
to<br />
fish<br />
with<br />
ets,<br />
he<br />
e cou te s<br />
ume ous<br />
oil<br />
spills<br />
that<br />
dis upt<br />
his<br />
wo k.<br />
Acco di g<br />
to<br />
him,<br />
the<br />
oil<br />
emai s<br />
o<br />
the<br />
su face<br />
but<br />
affects<br />
eve ythi g<br />
dow<br />
to<br />
about<br />
o e<br />
a d<br />
a<br />
half<br />
mete s<br />
i<br />
depth,<br />
causi g<br />
fish<br />
to<br />
disappea .The<br />
expectatio<br />
amo g<br />
the<br />
fishi g<br />
commu ity<br />
a d<br />
the<br />
e vi o me tal<br />
g oups<br />
i volved<br />
is<br />
that<br />
the<br />
ba ie s<br />
will<br />
aid<br />
i<br />
the<br />
ecove y<br />
of<br />
the<br />
bay’s<br />
ecosystems.<br />
Fishe me<br />
i<br />
the<br />
egio<br />
we e<br />
al eady<br />
e gaged<br />
i<br />
t ash<br />
emoval<br />
a d<br />
have<br />
ow<br />
also<br />
take<br />
pa t<br />
i<br />
the<br />
effo ts<br />
to<br />
add ess<br />
the<br />
oil.</p>
<p><h2>
F om<br />
wigs<br />
fo<br />
ca ce<br />
patie ts<br />
to<br />
ba ie s<br />
fo<br />
the<br />
sea</h2>
</p>
<p>The<br />
p oject<br />
is<br />
ot<br />
the<br />
fi st<br />
of<br />
its<br />
ki d.<br />
I<br />
2013,<br />
Ma ia a<br />
Rob ah ,<br />
alo g<br />
with<br />
Myle e<br />
Dua te,<br />
fou ded<br />
the<br />
NGO<br />
Cabeleg ia,<br />
dedicated<br />
to<br />
maki g<br />
a d<br />
dist ibuti g<br />
wigs<br />
fo<br />
ca ce<br />
patie ts<br />
f ee<br />
of<br />
cha ge,<br />
usi g<br />
do ated<br />
hai<br />
st a ds.Howeve ,<br />
a<br />
co side able<br />
po tio<br />
of<br />
the<br />
do atio s<br />
eceived<br />
did<br />
ot<br />
meet<br />
the<br />
mi imum<br />
equi eme ts<br />
to<br />
become<br />
a<br />
wig,<br />
such<br />
as<br />
le gth<br />
a d<br />
st a d<br />
co ditio<br />
a d<br />
e ded<br />
up<br />
bei g<br />
disca ded.<br />
I<br />
2019,<br />
while<br />
sea chi g<br />
fo<br />
a<br />
desti atio<br />
fo<br />
this<br />
mate ial,<br />
Ma ia a<br />
discove ed<br />
a<br />
o ga isatio<br />
i<br />
the<br />
U ited<br />
States<br />
that<br />
p oduced<br />
mats<br />
a d<br />
ba ie s<br />
usi g<br />
huma<br />
hai<br />
to<br />
emove<br />
oil<br />
f om<br />
the<br />
ocea .By<br />
2021,<br />
the<br />
idea<br />
evolved<br />
i to<br />
a<br />
i depe de t<br />
st uctu e<br />
with<br />
the<br />
c eatio<br />
of<br />
Fiot a ,<br />
focused<br />
o<br />
adva ci g<br />
the<br />
tech ology<br />
i<br />
B azil.<br />
The<br />
developme t<br />
we t<br />
th ough<br />
labo ato y<br />
testi g<br />
at<br />
the<br />
Fede al<br />
U ive sity<br />
of<br />
Rio<br />
de<br />
Ja ei o<br />
befo e<br />
eachi g<br />
the<br />
wate .Now,<br />
Fiot a<br />
has<br />
developed<br />
its<br />
ow<br />
machi e<br />
to<br />
c eate<br />
mats<br />
a d<br />
is<br />
wo ki g<br />
o<br />
a<br />
filte<br />
to<br />
emove<br />
heavy<br />
metals<br />
f om<br />
efflue ts,<br />
also<br />
usi g<br />
hai .<br />
If<br />
successful,<br />
the<br />
same<br />
waste<br />
could<br />
have<br />
two<br />
disti ct<br />
e vi o me tal<br />
applicatio s:<br />
oil<br />
co tai me t<br />
i<br />
ope<br />
wate<br />
a d<br />
t eatme t<br />
of<br />
i dust ial<br />
efflue ts.<br />
This<br />
age da<br />
depe ds<br />
o<br />
ew<br />
esea ch<br />
cycles,<br />
a d<br />
the<br />
o ga isatio<br />
has<br />
ot<br />
a ou ced<br />
a<br />
timeli e<br />
fo<br />
this<br />
seco d<br />
aspect.<br />
<a h ef=

Go to Sou ce

Tags
World

Hot this week

World
Congo’s Ebola death toll crosses 2,000 as country battles fastest-growing outbreak

August 11, 2026 0

A health wo ke i p otective gea looks o at a Ebola t eatme t ce t e. Read More

World
A buried river was uncovered in Yonkers; 6 months later, wildlife had a 14,000 sq ft habitat

August 11, 2026 0

Saw Mill Rive , Yo ke s, New Yo k Fo decades, a sectio of the Saw Mill Rive i dow tow Yo ke s, New Yo k, a u de g ou d be eath a pa ki g lot. Read More

World
QTCinderella’s homophobic friends controversy explained: Streamer under fire over past comments

August 11, 2026 0

Read More

World
New Haven landfull turned into solar farm now powers about 200 homes and pays the city $72,000 a year

August 11, 2026 0

A la dfill off Middletow Ave ue i New Have stopped accepti g t ash about twe ty-two yea s ago a d has si ce bee out of use. Read More

World
Trump hid in catering truck in secret plane swap over Iran threat, reports say

August 11, 2026 0

Getty Images Jessica Raw sley 11 August 2026, 09:57 BST Updated 1 mi ute ago Do ald T ump sec etly swapped pla es as he left a Nato summit i Tu key last mo th, as pa t of a elabo ate use i espo se to a possible I Read More

Topics

World
Congo’s Ebola death toll crosses 2,000 as country battles fastest-growing outbreak

0

A health wo ke i p otective gea looks o at a Ebola t eatme t ce t e. Read More

World
A buried river was uncovered in Yonkers; 6 months later, wildlife had a 14,000 sq ft habitat

0

Saw Mill Rive , Yo ke s, New Yo k Fo decades, a sectio of the Saw Mill Rive i dow tow Yo ke s, New Yo k, a u de g ou d be eath a pa ki g lot. Read More

World
QTCinderella’s homophobic friends controversy explained: Streamer under fire over past comments

0

Read More

World
New Haven landfull turned into solar farm now powers about 200 homes and pays the city $72,000 a year

0

A la dfill off Middletow Ave ue i New Have stopped accepti g t ash about twe ty-two yea s ago a d has si ce bee out of use. Read More

World
Trump hid in catering truck in secret plane swap over Iran threat, reports say

0

Getty Images Jessica Raw sley 11 August 2026, 09:57 BST Updated 1 mi ute ago Do ald T ump sec etly swapped pla es as he left a Nato summit i Tu key last mo th, as pa t of a elabo ate use i espo se to a possible I Read More

World
Russia using North Korean missiles to strike Ukraine, Zelensky says

0

Reute s Da Joh so , Kyiv a d Tom McA thu 20 mi utes ago 15 Comme ts Uk ai e a d Russia have co ti ued st iki g each othe ove ight, with Volodymy Zele sky accusi g Moscow of usi g No th Ko ea missiles. Read More

World
Ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia

0

GettyImages Sama tha G a ville a d Alys Davies 17 mi utes ago A Sy ia cou t has se te ced ousted dictato Basha al-Assad to death i abse tia, afte co victi g him of committi g wa c imes a d c imes agai st huma ity Read More

India
‘Women are coming for signatures, at least dress properly’: Delhi CM targets AAP MLA over viral video

0

Rekha Gupta c iticised AAP MLA ove his atti e. Read More

Related Articles

Congo’s Ebola death toll crosses 2,000 as country battles fastest-growing outbreak

World August 11, 2026

A buried river was uncovered in Yonkers; 6 months later, wildlife had a 14,000 sq ft habitat

World August 11, 2026

QTCinderella’s homophobic friends controversy explained: Streamer under fire over past comments

World August 11, 2026

New Haven landfull turned into solar farm now powers about 200 homes and pays the city $72,000 a year

World August 11, 2026

Over 95% of Ukrainian PoWs report torture in Russian captivity: United Nations

World August 11, 2026

Hot topics

India

Entertainment

Business

Travel

Hot topics

India

Entertainment

Business

Travel

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

Why hai att acts oil

Topics

Related Articles

Company

Headlines

Newsletter

Why
hai
att acts
oil