Hair, feathers as spill boom

THE Cebu City government is now accepting donations of human and animal hair or any hair-like indigenous materials to be used as alternative oil spill booms.

Vice mayor Edgar Labella said that the use of improvised oil spill booms worked in containing the oil spill in Guimaras Island in August 2006, there is no reason that such would not work at the oil spill happening in Cordova town.

“I am calling on all of the barber shops and beauty salons to donate their cut hair and for the barangays to collect cogon grass which we could give out to Cordova,” he said.

Aside from human hair, Labella said that, pet hair, chicken feathers, rice and corn straws are also useful because these are oil absorbers.  He said that these materials will be wrapped in stockings or mesh to serve as oil spill booms.

Health warning

The Regional Epidemiology and Surveilance Unit of the DOH-7 has advised Cordova residents to avoid skin contact with the oil and wash with soap and water if ever there is skin contact, avoid accidental ingestions. If it gets to the clothing, wash it properly. Don’t burn debris, and use face masks to avoid the smell of the fumes.

Diseases like Acute Respiratoy Illness (cough and fever), Acute Dermatitis ( skin discoloration or itchiness) , Acute Diarrhea and Vomiting, and Acute Conjunctivitis (redness of eyes with itchiness) are the possible health effects of the oil spill.

Dr. Expito Medalla of DOH-7 HEMS coordinator said that they are still waiting from BFAR if the fish from the areas affected are safe for consumption. /Doris C. Bongcac and Michelle Joy L. Padayhag