United States QPA-89-005
Environmental Protection August 1989
Agency
Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (PM-221)
&EPA Safer Use Of
Boat Bottom
Paints
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1ff you use antifouling bottom paints on your
IL boat, you can help protect manne life from
the toxic compounds these paint products
contain.
This leaflet, prepared by the Environmental
Protection Agency and the National Oceanic
and Atmosphenc Administration, concerns the
use of boat bottom paints and the current
restnctions on the use of those paints
containing tributyltin (TBT). The application of
antifouling paints containing TBT to
non-aluminum vessels less than 82 feet (25
meters) in length is prohibited. Effective March
1, 1990, only certified applicators will be able to
purchase and apply these paints (subject to the
spray-container exemption discussed below)
ow oat bottom Pciiits Work
Bottom paints contain pesticide ingredients
intended to prevent barnacles, seaweed, and
other “fouling” organisms from growing on the
underwater areas of boats, docks, buoys, and
other structures
Currently, copper
compounds and TBT
compounds are the most
common pesticide active
ingredients in
antifouhng paints. The
copper compound is
usually cuprous oxide
(Cu 2 0). Nine different
TBT compounds have
been used in antifouhng
paints.
Paints containing these pesticides are
designed to continually release the active
ingredient into the water. How fast it is
released (“the release rate”) depends on a
number of factors, including the type and
formulation of paint and whether the boat is
moving or sitting still
Reasons For Concern
While TBT is toxic to fouling organisms it also
has been shown to harm fish and other
non-target aquatic life that may be exposed to it
in water, sediment, or food sources. Scientists
have found that concentrations as low as a few
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14• I
parts-per-trillion, have caused abnormal
development and reduced reproduction in
oysters, clams, and snails. Although copper is
less toxic than TBT, it also can harm nontarget
aquatic organisms
The highest concentrations of TBT and high
levels of copper have been recorded around
mannas where hundreds of recreational boats
are docked for long penods of time. Because
mannas are constructed where boats are
protected from wind and waves, the pesticide
concentrations are not as readily diluted by
natural mixing with adjacent waters. These
pesticides cah accumulate in high
concentrations in the sediments and may have
a significant impact on the environment even
after the source of contamination is gone. In
addition, the areas used for marinas are often
located on the shallow edges of nvers and
estuaries, where many of the most productive
shellfish areas are located.
Special Care b Needed
Those who paint or clean boats need to be
especially careful to minimize the amount of
copper or TBT compounds that enter our
waters.
Careless use of boat bottom paints may
release these pesticides into the water. The
residues of old paint from scraping and sanding
often are washed into the water—either
deliberately or by rain. Paint also can be spilled
accidentally And sometimes the high-pressure
hoses used to wash boat bottoms erode the
paint, releasing significant amounts of the
pesticides. (According to British reports,
careless use accounted for 50 percent of the TBT
found in waterways in the United Kingdom.)
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Boats intended to be kept out of the water
when not in use probably have not been
painted with antifoulant. But vessels kept at
docks or otherwise in the water most of the
time typically are painted with such products.
The law requires that labels on all antifouhng
paints must list the pesticide active ingredients
contained in the paint. They are listed by
percent of copper (Cu) or TBT compounds, or
copper and TBT together.
Choosing A Point
If a boat is painted annually, copper-only paints
generally provide adequate protection over a
full boating season It may even be unnecessary
to repaint every year. Scrubbing the bottom
penodically extends the useful life of the paint,
and there are formulas available that do not
decrease in effectiveness with storage out of the
water over the winter. Paint dealers or marine
suppliers have paints which meet your specific
requirements.
Other Wop To Prevent Fouling
At this time, there are few alternatives. Besides
removing boats from the water after every use,
or scrubbing off barnacle and seaweed growth,
use of boat bottom paints containing pesticides
is still the pnyicipal way to prevent fouling
Some expenmental paints containing no
toxicants may be commercially available soon.
Pointing Precoutions
When using a high-pressure hose to clean off
the bottom of the boat before painting, watch
carefully for color coming off in the wash. If
you see any, reduce the hose pressure so the
paint and its toxic residues are not washed into
the environment.
Try to reduce the amount of paint lost to the
air or water as much as possible The best way
to apply bottom paints is by brush. Although it
takes longer than spraying, you have more
control over where the paint is going If you
use a roller, avoid spattering paint. A tarpaulin
or plastic sheet placed under your boat will
help you to contain spilled paint as well as
scraping and sanding debns.
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As with all pesticides, users of bottom paints
must follow the directions on the label. Work
practices specified on labels include
• Minimize possible exposure by wearing a
long-sleeved shirt, long pants or coveralls, a
hat, and chemical-resistant gloves when
applying or removing antifoulant paints
• Protect your eyes from paint dust and chips
from spattenng paint by weanng goggles, a
face shield, or safety glasses.
• Avoid breathing the dust when sanding
bottom paint or spray painting by wearing a
disposable dust mask or respirator, such as a
NIOSHIMSHA TC-2 1C.
• Avoid breathing solvent vapors by painting
your boat in a well-ventilated area. If painting
in a garage, storage shed, or other indoor
location, keep windows and doors open so
there will be fresh air during application and
drying.
• When you finish using bottom paints, wash
yourself thoroughly with soap and water Wash
your contaminated clothing separately from
household laundry.
Additionally, if your eyes water, you
feel dizzy, or get a headache, stop work for
a while and leave the area. If the condition
persists call your doctor In any event, don’t
resume work without increasing the ventilation
in the area or wearing respiratory protection,
such as a NIOSHIMSHA TC-23C paint
respirator.
Regardless of application
method, you must use protective
clot h ing
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Sweep up all paint chips, spent abrasives, or
sanding dust left from the removal of old boat
bottom paint, and put them in a trash
receptacle or other container for later disposal.
If you spill any paint, wipe it up immediately.
Don’t use a hose to wash the paint down a
sewer or onto the ground. Never wash out or
burn old boat bottom paint cans or the brushes
used to apply these paints. Leftover paint
should be kept in a tightly sealed container and
placed in a trash receptacle. Wet brushes
should be wrapped in newspaper before being
discarded. The ultimate disposal of these
materials should be in areas designated for
collection of hazardous household waste or
through special community collections of such
waste. Ask if your marina or marine service
facility has hazardous-waste disposal services
that you could utilize.
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Federal law prohibits the use of bottom paint
containing TBT on vessels less than 82 feet (or
25 meters) long, except for aluminum hulls and
aluminum outdrives and outboard motors, and
bars the use on any boat or boat part of any
TBT boat bottom paint with a release rate in
excess of 4.0 micrograms per square centimeter
per day. Paints with a higher release rate were
banned from sale after December 16, 1988. EPA
also has imposed these additional restrictions:
• The sale of TBT paint will be restricted to
certified pesticide applicators as of March 1,
1990. This does not apply to 16 oz. spray
containers registered for use on aluminum
motors or lower drive units of vessels, which
may be used by non-certified persons.
• Application or removal of TBT paint is
restricted to certified pesticide applicators
and /or to persons working under their direct
supervision as of March 1, 1990.
• Additional specific application, removal and
disposal instructions are required on labels
Many coastal states have their own legal
restrictions on the sale or use of antifouling
paints. These may be even more stringent than
the federal law. Contact your state boating law
administration for more information on what
state restrictions may apply to you.
Monitoring of I tT concentrations will
continue to determine if further restrictions are
necessary.
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Things To Remember
When Selecting And Using
Boat Bottom Points
To help reduce the hazards from boat bottom
paints:
Choose Paint Carefully
Choose the proper boat bottom paint to meet
your specific needs. If you paint annually,
copper-only paints will generally give adequate
protection. If you haul your boat annually,
select a paint that will last for more than one
season.
Some stores sell ‘FBT paint additives. It is a
federal offense to add this type of product to
any paint to create an antifoulant paint for use
on vessel hulls, motors, or other structures that
may contact marine or fresh water
Avoid Unnecessary Scrubbing
Never scrub more than necessary when
cleaning the bottom of your boat. Scrub on the
ebb tide if the boat is afloat or on scrubbing
piles. In a boatyard, take precautions when
using the high-pressure hose to prevent
washing antifoulant back into the water. If the
wash water appears discolored, you are
wasting paint and washing the pesticides from
the paint off the boat bottom. Reduce the spray
pressure until the discoloration stops.
Apply Paint Carefully
Choose a place to remove and apply bottom
paints where paint scrapings and sandings can
be cleaned up, and where waste from new
painting can’t enter the water. The location
should be above the high-water mark Avoid
spraying or introducmg paint into the air or
onto other surfaces. As with any pesticide,
wear any required clothing, as specified on the
label.
Follow Proper Cleanup Procedures
Clean up when you’ve finished. Make sure that
old cans, buckets, brushes, rags, blasting sand,
paint chips, and scrapings are collected and
disposed of properly.
Printed on Recycled Paper u s. o Po. iesa—en.e’o
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