According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), acid rain is “any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms.” That includes rain and snow but also things like fog and even dust. Here are some considerations for Exterior Lead Paint Treatment Related to Acid Rain Deposition and Interior Lead Paint Treatment Related to Mold-Mildew Resistance.
Mold, mildew, algae, and fungus are known as “biological pollutants” because they are living structures that can cause health problems. They are considered “microbiological” because they are tiny. Both mold and mildew are invisible to the naked eye until there is enough growth for them to be seen. Mold spores, which easily grow into mold, float through the air; they are everywhere! Mold spores are also invisible.
Acid rain, sometimes referred to as “acid deposition”, can accelerate structural damage such as weathering (damage resulting from exposure to the elements), rust, and surface erosion. This deterioration encourages the growth of mold and mildew because it creates the perfect environment; a moist, protected place for mold spores to land and grow. External damage can also result in leaks. Once spore-laden moisture enters a structure; serious indoor mold problems can develop.
ECOBOND ® products resist acid rain leaching up to 99% – EPA Method 1312
Did you know? You can have a mold/mildew problem and not see mold. If you have a hidden leak, mold may grow where you cannot see it. Additionally, visible mold is only the tip of the iceberg. Mold structures can grow deep beneath surfaces. This is why drywall is removed during mold clean-up.
Biologic pollutants such as mold can cause significant health issues and major structural problems. Avoiding them is easier and far less costly than cleaning them up. Simply applying protective, resistant coatings before there is an issue can help to prevent both external degradation and internal contamination. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the use of mold inhibitors as a mold-preventive measure.
Resistance can be as easy as a coat of paint! Try ECOBOND® Lead Defender® and Lead Defender Pro®. These coatings are specially formulated to be mold and mildew resistant; and both meet the American Standard for Testing and Materials’ global standard ASTM D5590-00.
Layer Your Mildew Defense with ECOBOND® Lead Defender® Paint
Lead, although a natural metal, can potentially be toxic. Lead-based paint found in older homes, especially those built before 1978, can potentially be harmful to all ages and even your pets. If you happen to have lead paint in your bathrooms, there are extra considerations to address. Bathrooms are susceptible to mold and mildew. Because of the increased moisture due to multiple points of water, humid air, and the enclosed nature of the space, microorganisms can more easily grow and take root in the crevices and edges of your bathroom. The best way to combat it is by adding mildew-resistant factors throughout the bathroom. Here are two simple ways to bathrooms mildew-free and to optimize air quality:
- Paint the bathroom walls with ECOBOND Lead Defender® paint for extra lead and mold/mildew protection. Mold and mildew spores float throughout the air in any given bathroom, looking for the best surfaces to settle and multiply. Using mildew resistant paint that is chemically constructed to include antimicrobial formulas that protect your walls protects the structural integrity of the walls.
- Add adequate ventilation. Mold and algae grow wherever there’s adequate moisture. Even though your walls are protected with the right mold- and mildew-resistant paint, spores might settle in tile grout, along metal fixtures, and in the air. Add a bathroom fan or exterior window to keep humid conditions at bay.
- Use low-VOC paints and stains for all of your surfaces. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are dangerous ingredients or by-products of many coating materials, and they can make the air toxic during the application process and sometimes for the life of the product. Using water-based products or paints that guarantee no added VOCs keeps the air quality higher and occupants healthier.
Every layer of defense you can add to your bathrooms impacted by lead paint to keep mold, mildew, and algae out results in better air quality and stronger, longer-lasting renovations. Painting your walls with paints rated for safety is one of the best layers for stopping growth and protecting the majority of your bathroom from toxins.
ECOBOND® products resist mold and mildew – (ASTM D5590-00 modified)
Acid Rain Attacks Fire-Retardant Coatings
Acid rain is a common problem in industrial areas and is one that can seriously damage your fire-retardant coatings. While the damage may seem slight or even minimal at first, it can add up to become very concerning over a short period. Even worse, it can increase your fire risk and make it more likely that serious lead paint poisoning could occur.
This Can Leave Lead Paint Exposed
When your fire-retardant materials wear away, your lead paint will be exposed to the environment. This is a serious danger because it could allow lead paint to spread to water sources. Even worse, it could cause poisonous smoke if your facility ever catches fire. While that risk may seem low, you are going to be looking at a serious problem if your unprotected facility goes up in flames.
Destruction by fire holds a universal horror for us all. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) have both established specific standards so companies that produce materials for use within and on the outside construction of homes, businesses, stadiums, public buildings, etc., as well as materials that are worn on the body, are fire-retardant and/or fire-resistant. When a fire flares, the standards used in manufacturing the coatings in these products should delay the spread of the fire as well as well as limit the amount of smoke that is produced.
With acid rain being a real and present danger to the integrity of building materials, paint, and coatings, it’s important to utilize only products that meet the stringent standards of the ASTM E84–products that earn the highest ASTM rating of “0” for surface flame spread and smoke density measurements.
When dealing with the possibility of loss of life and inestimable damage resulting from fire, make sure you use only the highest rated fire-retardant coating products and paints and follow recommended maintenance suggestions to insure the best protection for your loved ones and your property in the event of a fire.
Mitigating This Danger
Protecting with ECOBOND® – Lead Defender® or Lead Defender® Pro is an essential way of avoiding this kind of acid rain damage. These products have been reported as “groundbreaking” methods for protecting the environment from lead paint and avoiding fire damage. They have the highest possible ASTM E84 ratings, as they have a risk of almost zero for both flame-spread and smoke developed during a lead paint fire.
ECOBOND® Paint LLC is the Premier Provider of Environmental Products focused on protecting human health from the dangers of lead. Enjoy Peace of Mind from the Dangers of Lead Paint When You Use Our Proven & Patented ECOBOND® Family of Environmental Paints! Now includes Bitrex® a bitter-tasting additive to discourage oral contact! www.EcobondPaint.com
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