Insecticidal Paint

If you are wondering if you misread the title of my post this morning, you didn't, I really did mean to write insecticidal paint.  I had never heard of it either until I came across an article this morning regarding this type of paint and the wonders that it can work, simply by being applied to a house.  It obviously caught my attention a little quicker than it might catch anyone else's due to the fact that I am a painting contractor. Regardless, I read the article.  It appears that this paint, Inesfly, made by a Spanish company, contains micro capsules of pesticides that release slowly over time, killing almost any type of bug in your home.  If you are about to turn off the computer and rush to go buy this stuff, don't, it isn't available everywhere yet and that includes the United States.  The areas that it has been most heavily used are in tropical areas so far, South America, Mexico, and soon to be Africa.  Or in other words, it has been used in areas that have large problems with bugs and the diseases they carry and transmit to humans.  The paint itself has proven much more effective and safer than fumigation and has actually succeeded where fumigation efforts have failed for decades.  The key to the success of the paint is that while it contains slow release pesticides, it also contains a growth inhibitor for insect larvae which regular pesticides don't kill.  With these two killing agents trapped in the paint, the product has been proven effective for up to two years before needing a fresh coat of paint. 

Being someone who likes to lead as natural a lifestyle as possible, I have certain concerns as to the safety of the pesticides being released and its effect on humans.  However, if the paint can eradicate bugs that contain potentially life threatening diseases from a house, then I would say it trumps any long term side effects to humans.  So far, it has been utilized to eradicate scorpions, kissing bugs, and certain types of mosquitoes.  It is currently being tested now to see if it will work against the mosquito that carries malaria.  If so, it could be of great benefit in Africa where malaria seemingly runs rampant.  All in all, people are simply amazed at how effective this paint is in eradicating bugs from the home.  In the United States, it could potentially be utilized to eradicate cockroaches and other annoying bugs from the home.  How wonderful would it be to be able to paint your house in stead of fumigate it to get rid of all the bugs.  I think it would be great, although seeing as my house is not infested, I probably wouldn't use it unless absolutely necessary.  So far, it seems like this paint would be best utilized in the Southern United States where bugs and diseases flourish much more easily than they do in the North.  Now all we need in the United States is for the EPA to approve the product and allow it to be sold.  We will have to wait and see how long that process takes and if it ever passes their approval. 

It is technologies like this that will hopefully save many lives from insect born diseases.  This also shows a great deal of ingenuity in being able to encapsulate a pesticide within a paint in a manner that allows for its slow release.  I wonder what's next when it comes to paint or any home improvement product for that matter.  It seems that people keep on coming up with new and better ways of doing things.  Some I feel are a waste of time while others are game changing in their approach and application.  For now, we will simply have to wait and see if this product eventually makes it to market in the United States.  I for one hope that it does because as bad as the pesticides in the paint may be, fumigating your house is a much worse experience and proven not to be as effective as this paint is.  In any case, if you want to check out the article that I read, follow this link to the New York Times.  Let me know your thoughts on this product.