ABSTRACT
These early coatings received some protection against the growth of fungus from metallic pigments that contained zinc, mercury (cinnabar,
vermilion), or chromium (green cinnabar). Later, organometallic materials such as phenyl mercuric oleate (PMO), phenyl mercuric acetate (PMA) and TBTO (bis-tributyltin oxide) were used with greater success, especially with the mecurials. However, the mercury compounds were eventually forbidden for use in paints by the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) because of toxicity, ecotoxicity, and environmental persistence. TBTO is no longer being used in antifoulant paints because of ecotoxicity and environmental persistence, but it is still used in some wood preservative preparations and coatings. Today, there are a number of effective products on the market for preserving dry paint films. These will be discussed in a later section.
