Paints, biocidal compounds

The use of organolead compounds as paint biocides was also widely recognized, but tiiese lost out to the less toxic and better accepted organotin monomers and polymers. ... 

Regulations. In order to decrease the amount of anthropogenic release of mercury in the United States, the EPA has limited both use and disposal of mercury. In 1992, the EPA banned land disposal of high mercury content wastes generated from the electrolytic production of chlorine—caustic soda (14), accompanied by a one-year variance owing to a lack of available waste treatment faciUties in the United States. A thermal treatment process meeting EPA standards for these wastes was developed by 1993. The use of mercury and mercury compounds as biocides in agricultural products and paints has also been banned by the EPA. 

Prior to the 1990s phenyhnercuric acetate was the primary bactericide and fungicide in latex and waterborne paints. Because of the increasing concerns of mercury toxicity and the potential for high consumer and occupational exposures to mercury when present in paints, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) induced U.S. manufacturers of PMA and other mercury compounds to withdraw their registrations for use of these substances as biocides in paints (see AIercury). Mercury compounds are used only for very limited, specific purposes, such as the use of phenyhnercuric mXx.2LX.e[55-68-5] as a bactericide in cosmetic eye preparations (see Cosmetics). 

Boron, as barium metaborate, is marketed as a mildew preventative for paints (273). Borax is used as a wood preservative, and an organic boron, 2,2 -(l-methyltrimethylenedioxy)-bis(4,4,6-trimethyl)-l,3,2-dioxaborinane (Biobor JF) [14697-50-80] is a biocide for jet fuel (274). Whereas tin metal is used to coat steel cans used as food containers, organic tin in the form of tributyl tin compounds have proven to be powerfiil antimicrobials, and have found use in antifouHng coatings for ship bottoms, paints, and wood preservatives (275). 

EC (2002) Assessment of the risks to heaith and the environment posed by the use of organostannic compounds (exctuding use as a biocide in antifouiing paints) and a description of the economic profiie of the industry. Final report prepared for the European Commission (Enterprise Directorate-General), July (Contract No. ETD/FIF.20010617). 

This final report, entitled Revised assessment of the risks to health and the environment associated with the use of organostannic compounds (excluding use as a biocide in antifouling paints) and released in December 2003, is an update of a report submitted to the Enterprise Directorate-General of the European Commission in July 2002 (EC, 2002). 

Tributyltin and triphenyltin compounds are used as wood preservative fungicides, agrochemical fungicides, and as miticides and biocides in marine paints. 

The use of biocides is spread across the whole polymer range, e.g., paints, ropes, textiles, fibres, etc. Many are copper, silver or arsenic compounds and also various heterocyclic compounds, e.g., isothiazolines (which have some structural resemblance to penicillin). 

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