Colori just brought Mythic Paint to Chicago.  :) I couldn’t be happier to have this paint close by.  A favorite of those that have environmental illnesses, allergies, and those looking for a greener option – Mythic Paint not only performs well, but also has minimal scent and cures fast. (For those of you with serious sensitivities, remember to always test small amounts first.  A great idea is the jar test as we all react very differently to different products.  I have learned this the hard way!)

Michelle, the owner of Colori, is amazing and if you are in Chicago she rocks at in home color consultations . Also, her window display is by INDO projects and  is stunning don’t you think?

An article on WebMD reports that scientists have created a new paint that is strong enough to kill superbugs.  Superbugs infect many hospital patients and kill thousands annually.  My first thought is that are there not other ways to take care of this problem such as increased air ventilation? Or how about better use of material? And isn’t one of the reasons that we are having such a problem with superbugs in the first place because we are using too many drugs to combat them?  

The new paint will include antimicrobial and antibiotic properties to help protect against dangerous bugs as well as mold growth.  This is a very top down approach to solving the problem of mold.  We should design our buildings intelligently, which is what Building Biology is all about.  

Essentially, now we are talking about not only filling our bodies with drugs instead of changing our habits, but now we are talking about drugging our homes as well.  We have gotten so use to living in ‘sick buildings’ that I think too many of us are forgetting what it means to live in a healthy environment.  My hope is that our culture will stop looking for a quick fix for every ailment that presents itself, and realize that changing habits and being more conscious of design in the first place is a lot easier and cheaper in the long run.  

The other interesting thing about this paint is that a simple chlorination process can be used to recharge the paint.  Way to throw another toxic element into the mix.  Chlorine, when it interacts with natural substances, produces trihalomethanes (THMs).  THMs are cancer causing compounds. THMs are also linked to kidney, liver, and nervous system damage as well as birth defects.  I do not think that we need to add this element into a hospital or home environment.  It is just another element that is in the paint along with the antibiotics and antimicrobials that can weaken our immune system and make us more vulnerable to superbugs in the first place.