Human hair used as protective barrier in oceans

Published on

10/08/2026 - 7:22 GMT+2

As the Portuguese saying goes: "At first it feels strange, then it gets under your skin." The same happens when you first hear about a project that turns human hair into a barrier to filter oil and plastics from the ocean.

The technology, already used in other countries such as Chile and the United States of America, inspired Mariana Robrahn, founder of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Fiotrar, to create and develop this project in Brazil.

The tests were carried out for the first time in Enseada de Bom Jesus, on the shores of Guanabara Bay in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where a rubbish containment barrier was already in place.