Brewer Leads Senate to Pass Bill to Further Prevent Risk of Anti-freeze Poisoning

(Boston) – Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) today announced that the Senate has voted in favor of a bill that will require manufacturers to put a bittering agent into all sizes of retail anti-freeze, including 55 gallon wholesale drums.

The legislation, “An Act relative to anti-freeze and engine coolant,” expands a bill that was passed last year requiring a bittering agent in smaller retail containers of anti-freeze.

“A very small amount of anti-freeze can cause a lot of damage in animals and children,” said Brewer, the sponsor of the bill.  “This bill will ensure that all anti-freeze has this bittering agent, making it less appealing to smell and taste.”

Engine coolant and anti-freeze are two commonly found substances that, when digested, can produce harmful effects such as life-threatening kidney damage. Both of these substances are notably sweet in taste, attracting both children and animals. Just one tablespoon of 50-50 diluted anti-freeze can be lethal to a 10-pound cat and as little as 4 ounces can be fatal to a 20 pound dog.

Brewer filed the bill on behalf of his constituent, Father Paul LaPalme, whose 8 pound wire haired dachshund, Schubert, died after drinking from a puddle at a Massachusetts car dealership.  It was later determined that the animal had suffered kidney failure from ingesting anti-freeze.

According to the MSPCA, at least 90,000 companion animals die from anti-freeze poisoning annually and thousands of people, mostly children, are affected each year as well. 

The bill will now go before the House of Representatives.

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Posted: Tue, Jun 12, 2012
Updated Tue, Jun 12, 2012