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Antifreeze Poisoning in Massachusetts

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As of 2011, Massachusetts law requires the addition of a bittering agent to retail containers of antifreeze to deter ingestion and poisonings of children and animals. However, many people get their cars serviced at garages, which use wholesale containers of antifreeze that are not treated with a bittering agent. Leaks of untreated antifreeze still result in poisonings. In MA legislation has been filed that would require that wholesale containers, such as those used at automotive service stations, also contain a bittering agent to prevent ingestion. Find out what your state requires and speak to your representatives about a national law.

Solution to the Antifreeze Death Problem

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One solution to the antifreeze death problem is to require all antifreeze manufacturers to add in a non-toxic bittering agent that makes it taste awful. This will save countless lives of children and pets. Many states, and even some cities, are considering legislation requiring the addition of the bitterent denatonium benzoate to antifreeze. This would make the antifreeze virtually impossible for a child or animal to be poisoned by the usually sweet-tasting liquid. Find out if this is required where you live.

Jul 31 2012 Antifreeze Can Kill Your Child or Pet

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Antifreeze is the bright green or orange liquid in your car’s radiator to keep the automobile from freezing or overheating. Most brands of antifreeze contain ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol is a sweet tasting liquid and it is deadly to both children and pets. Just two tablespoons of antifreeze is enough to kill a child. As little as two ounces can kill a dog and one teaspoon will kill a cat. In fact if a cat walks through a puddle of antifreeze and then licks its paws, it can ingest enough antifreeze to cause death.

This liquid has such a sweet smell and taste that it is irresistible to both children and animals who come in contact with it. Every year hundreds of children are poisoned by antifreeze while tens of thousands of dogs and cats die. Kids and pets find antifreeze:

• in the garage, when they come across an unmarked bottle of old antifreeze or a pan of antifreeze left on the floor.

• in a puddle of it left in a parking space or on the driveway.

One of the organs most affected by ethylene glycol is the kidneys and even a small amount of antifreeze can cause kidney damage. Once ethylene glycol is inside the body, it is changed into a crystalline acid which attacks the kidneys. If your child or pet act like they are drunk (lack of coordination), it is a symptom that they ingested antifreeze.

Over the next few posts we will discuss some solutions to this problem. Feel free to share your comments.

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