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Hair used to soak up US oil slick | Hair used to soak up US oil slick |
(10 minutes later) | |
Hairdressers, pet groomers and farmers worldwide are collecting hair and fur to help mop up the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. | Hairdressers, pet groomers and farmers worldwide are collecting hair and fur to help mop up the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. |
The hair, stuffed into nylon tights, helps booms soak up thick oil spewing from the blown-out well off the coast of Louisiana. | |
About 370,000 salons are taking part, said the Matter of Trust charity, which is organising the massive "hair lift". | About 370,000 salons are taking part, said the Matter of Trust charity, which is organising the massive "hair lift". |
Some 450,000lbs (204,000kg) of hair and fur is said to being arriving each day. | Some 450,000lbs (204,000kg) of hair and fur is said to being arriving each day. |
Hair is an extremely efficient material for taking in all kinds of oils including petroleum, Matter of Trust's co-founder Lisa Gautier told the BBC's World Today programme. | Hair is an extremely efficient material for taking in all kinds of oils including petroleum, Matter of Trust's co-founder Lisa Gautier told the BBC's World Today programme. |
She explained that each follicle has an enormous surface area, which the oil "sticks" to. | She explained that each follicle has an enormous surface area, which the oil "sticks" to. |
Some 100,000 pet groomers, alpaca and sheep farmers are taking part | Some 100,000 pet groomers, alpaca and sheep farmers are taking part |
Volunteers have been stuffing the nylons with hair at 15 warehouses close to the disaster zone, making huge "hairy sausages" or booms, she said. | Volunteers have been stuffing the nylons with hair at 15 warehouses close to the disaster zone, making huge "hairy sausages" or booms, she said. |
The booms will be laid on beaches rather than out at sea, soaking up any oil that washes ashore. | The booms will be laid on beaches rather than out at sea, soaking up any oil that washes ashore. |
The technique has been backed by the Applied Fabric Technologies, the world's second largest oil boom manufacturer. | The technique has been backed by the Applied Fabric Technologies, the world's second largest oil boom manufacturer. |
Ms Gautier said people from France, England, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Canada and the US have been donating hair and fur. | Ms Gautier said people from France, England, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Canada and the US have been donating hair and fur. |
Alpaca and sheep farmers have also got involved, according to the San Francisco-based charity. | Alpaca and sheep farmers have also got involved, according to the San Francisco-based charity. |
Oil has been escaping at a rate of 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) a day since 20 April, after an explosion on a BP-leased rig. | Oil has been escaping at a rate of 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) a day since 20 April, after an explosion on a BP-leased rig. |