| | | | | And the tragedy is that every instance of antifreeze |
| Every year, about 10,000 dogs, cats and children are | | | | poisoning can be easily and inexpensively prevented. |
| victims of accidental poisoning by automobile | | | | On May 24, 2005 U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman and |
| antifreeze. In 2003 nearly 1,400 children ended up in | | | | Senator George Allen introduced legislation in the U.S. |
| emergency rooms because of antifreeze poisoning, | | | | House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, |
| according to the Consumer Product Safety | | | | respectively, requiring antifreeze to contain a bittering |
| Commission. | | | | agent to render the substance unpalatable to pets and |
| The American Association of Poison Control Centers | | | | children, helping to assure they would no longer drink |
| reported 2,372 accidental poisonings related to | | | | the poisonous chemical. The bittering agent they are |
| Ethylene Glycol (EG) antifreeze in 1987. 765 of these | | | | considering is denatonium benzoate, the world’s |
| were children under six years of age. The Humane | | | | most bitter substance. |
| society of the United States names EG as one of the | | | | Denatonium benzoate is a harmless compound that, |
| most dangerous Household hazards to children and | | | | even in extremely small quantities, makes ingestion |
| pets, not to mention wildlife. Further, they estimate that | | | | impossible. It is harmless to people, animals, plants and |
| the actual deaths of companion animals and wildlife | | | | the environment. And the addition of 30 parts per |
| due to EG poisoning runs into the tens of thousands | | | | million will make antifreeze unpalatable. How much are |
| every year. | | | | we talking about? One (1) teaspoon for 50 gallons of |
| A child or a pet doesn’t have to drink a lot of | | | | antifreeze at a literal cost of pennies per gallon. |
| antifreeze to be poisoned. A few ounces, 3 or 4 | | | | That’s right – about 3 or 4 cents per gallon. |
| tablespoons, can be lethal for a child. Even a few licks | | | | So why are legislators and manufacturers dragging |
| of this sweet-tasting liquid can be fatal to a cat or dog. | | | | their feet? One would think this is a no-brainer. |
| For a medium sized dog, ingestion of about 2 ounces | | | | Many states, and even some cities, are considering |
| is toxic. For cats, as little as ¼ of an ounce can be | | | | legislation requiring the addition of the bitterent |
| lethal. Children may take in large amounts since the | | | | denatonium benzoate to antifreeze, making it virtually |
| substance tastes good. Alcoholics may also drink it as | | | | impossible for a child or animal to be poisoned by this |
| a substitute for alcohol. | | | | sweet-tasting liquid. |