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What's a Microbe?
Microbes or microorganisms are living cells that are too
small to be seen with the naked eye and must be viewed
through a microscope. The naked eye is only able to
detect the presence of microbes once they have
multiplied to the hundreds of thousands. And under the
right conditions, microbes can double in number every 15
- 20 minutes. Types of microorganisms include bacteria,
algae, and fungi or mold.
Microban antimicrobial product protection is engineered
to protect products from bacteria, mold, and in some
cases algae that can cause stains, odors, and product
deterioration. Microban protection is not designed to
protect users from disease causing microorganisms.
Bacteria
Billions of years ago, bacteria were among the earliest
forms of life on Earth. Today, bacteria are present in
the soil, in the air, in water, on plants, and even on
animals and humans. There's no escaping the presents of
bacteria and in fact, many of the bacteria we encounter
are beneficial to the environment and even to the human
body helping us to digest food for example. However,
some bacteria can adversely affect the everyday products
we use in our lives causing stains, odors, and product
deterioration.
Fungus
Early fossil records suggest that fungi have been on
Earth for over 550 million years. And some experts
estimate that today over 1.5 million fungus species
exist. Common fungi include mushrooms, puffballs,
truffles, yeasts, and most mildews. Fungi are commonly
referred to as mold and begin life as microscopic
airborne spores that germinate on contact with the
surface of a nonliving organic matter where moisture is
present. Mold is then able to penetrate the organic
material, secretly enzymes and absorbing water and the
digested sugars and starches from the nutrient source.
Mold spores are present everywhere in our indoor and
outdoor environment and many of the products found in
our homes provide rich nutrient sources. The best
defense is prevention: control moisture in your home
including high humidity levels and look for products
that resist the growth of mold.
Algae
Simple, plantlike microorganisms, algae are often
classified at the phylum level according to their color,
i.e. green, red, golden-brown, and brown. Algae vary in
size from microscopic algae to the largest forms such as
seaweeds. While they can vary in habitat, most algae are
found in fresh water or seawater. Algae use the energy
of sunlight through the process of photosynthesis to
make their own food.
Algae produce more oxygen than all plants combined and
play an invaluable role in our ecosystem. Humans have
also found other uses for algae, as food for people and
animals, as can however damage product surfaces for
example your swimming pool filter, the hull of your
boat, or the exterior of your home.
All of our ArmorGuard top coat products have Microban
Oceanearing Research & Development, LLC |
