Environment

Human and Dog Hair Used In Gulf Oil Spill Cleanup: Update May 4

by NowPublic Staff | May 4, 2010 at 08:41 am

1909 views | 3 Recommendations | 2 comments

BP Gulf Oil Spill Cleanup Update May 4: Chemicals and Oil Booms Used (video)

BP is using everything from chemical dispersants to booms filled with human and dog hair as part of their cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

One effective but low tech method is to gather human and dog hair and stuff them into hair booms - which are used to absorb the oil from the surface of the water. Matter of Trust is a San Francisco based non-proft that promotes the use of hair booms to help clean up oil spills.

See Hair Boom Oil Spill Cleanup Video

In Gulf Coast cities, the group says volunteers are hosting Bar B Q parties, which they call "Boom B Q's," to assemble booms in their backyards. It says other "hair-raising" events include "Cut-a-thons" and"Shave-a-thons" to collect donations.

BP is also using more heavy weight methods in the Gulf oil spill cleanup. BP is building a 67 tonne concrete and metal dome that would cover the leaking well head. That project is expected to take a week to complete. Meanwhile, BP has deployed chemical dispersants both on the surface and in the water to help break up the oil.

Additionally, BP began drilling a relief well on Sunday "to intercept and isolate" the leaking oil well, the company announced Monday. The aim is to drill down to about 5,486 metres, and inject heavy drilling fluids and then cement to cut off the flow of oil to the surface, chief operating officer Doug Suttles said.

Despite all these efforts the oil continues to leak, spewing about 5,000 barrels a day into the Gulf of Mexico.

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Sign In or Join to post comments

JWarren (not verified)

at 19:23 on May 4th, 2010

This is great... and seems so easy. How as many folks as possible going to salons/pet groomers specifically to get short haircuts/styles/pooch trims in the name of the Gulf oil slick? If this is made a pointed, regional/national time-sensitive green/eco drive this week, we can get the MAX of this fuzzy resource stuffed into stockings and down to the GULF ASAP. JCW