Hair vs. oil: The curious method to clean beaches affected by the spill in the Gulf

"Businesses in Veracruz are requesting donations of clean, dry hair to create nets that will block the flow of crude oil and absorb it from the ocean. One kilogram of hair can clean up to eight liters of oil, making it a potentially effective tool in combating oil spills."

"The initiative has historical precedence, as citizens organized to use hair during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred over 15 years ago. At that time, people worldwide expressed interest in participating, demonstrating a global commitment to environmental cleanup."

"Petco, with about 1,000 salons across the country, has indicated it can send up to a ton of fur per day to support the initiative. A company spokesperson emphasized the potential for making a real difference in the cleanup efforts."

"Mexican authorities have responded to the hair collection initiative by insisting on the effectiveness of traditional clean-up methods, stating that conventional cleaning with shovels and manpower is the most important part of the response to the oil spill."

In Veracruz, a citizen initiative has emerged to clean oil-contaminated waters using donations of clean, dry hair. Businesses are creating nets from hair to block and absorb crude oil. One kilogram of hair can clean up to eight liters of oil. This method was previously used during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, garnering global participation. Petco has expressed support, offering to send significant amounts of fur. However, Mexican authorities emphasize traditional clean-up methods as the primary focus for addressing the oil spill.

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