Senator Mark Pryor Press Releases

This week, U.S. Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) introduced legislation requiring that antifreeze contain a bittering agent which will make the substance unpalatable to children and pets. This legislation would prevent 1,400 children and 10,000 household pets from accidentally ingesting antifreeze, and would cost no more than $0.03 per gallon. Children mistake the substance's sweet taste for soft-drinks or other safe beverages and animals are attracted to the chemical's sweet flavor. A mere sip or lick from driveways, puddles and curbside spills commonly results in agonizing kidney failure, respiratory arrest, comas and death.

The legislation, entitled the Antifreeze Bittering Act, would require denatonium benzoate-the world's most bitter substance-to be added to antifreeze sold in quantities of 55 gallons or less. The process would be simple to implement. "We've found a smart solution to a serious problem that's good for kids and safe for the environment," Ackerman said. "The legislation will also help combat the recent wave of 'Death by Antifreeze' cases in which individuals and pets were murdered when their food and drinks were laced with antifreeze. We can avoid future tragedies by adding a bittering substance to antifreeze, which would ensure that a toxic dose of antifreeze could never be voluntarily ingested."

"This is practical legislation that can easily prevent unnecessary deaths" said Rep. Rohrabacher. "As many parents know, toddlers and young children are all too eager to try anything and have no concept of harm. The addition of a bittering agent to antifreeze is a simple way to keep our kids safe and give parents a little peace of mind."

"Accidents involving the ingestion of antifreeze are tragic, not only because of the harm they cause children and pets, but because they are avoidable" Senator Pryor said. "We know that technology exists to prevent such accidents; it is simple, low-cost and the right thing to do."

"This bill is important because it will help protect people, pets and businesses" Senator Allen said. "Clearly, every family wants to ensure that we make useful, needed substances as safe as possible for children and family pets. While I usually advocate allowing free people and free markets to solve their problems, the government can help, when requested, to set a safety standard. This is the least costly and most efficient way to assure that antifreeze is truly distasteful for humans and animals." "Changing the taste is a common sense solution" said Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM), an original cosponsor. "The relatively minor inconvenience and cost to antifreeze producers is clearly offset by the potential to save children, pets, livestock and wildlife from harm." The Antifreeze legislation is endorsed by the Consumer Specialty Products Association (representing the antifreeze industry), Honeywell (the leading manufacturer of antifreeze), the Doris Day Animal League, the Humane Society of the United States, the Society for Animal Protective Legislation and the Pet Food Institute.

California, New Mexico and Oregon have already adopted their own laws requiring the addition of a bittering agent to antifreeze, and five other states-Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada and New York-currently have legislation pending. Further, the U.S. Conference of Mayors recently passed a resolution urging Congress to "help cities protect children and animals" by passing the Antifreeze Bittering Act. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, a deadly toxin. Antifreeze is a product that is used to prevent freezing as well as overheating in motor vehicles. Spills occur when vehicles leak the substance, overheat or when the chemical is changed or replaced. # # #

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		May 26, 2005 Press Release Pryor Seeks to Combat Antifreeze Poisoning in Children and Pets This week, U.S. Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) introduced legislation requiring that antifreeze contain a bittering agent which will make the substance unpalatable to children and pets. This legislation would prevent 1,400 children and 10,000 household pets from accidentally ingesting antifreeze, and would cost no more than $0.03 per gallon. Children mistake the substance's sweet taste for soft-drinks or other safe beverages and animals are attracted to the chemical's sweet flavor. A mere sip or lick from driveways, puddles and curbside spills commonly results in agonizing kidney failure, respiratory arrest, comas and death. The legislation, entitled the Antifreeze Bittering Act, would require denatonium benzoate-the world's most bitter substance-to be added to antifreeze sold in quantities of 55 gallons or less. The process would be simple to implement. "We've found a smart solution to a serious problem that's good for kids and safe for the environment," Ackerman said. "The legislation will also help combat the recent wave of 'Death by Antifreeze' cases in which individuals and pets were murdered when their food and drinks were laced with antifreeze. We can avoid future tragedies by adding a bittering substance to antifreeze, which would ensure that a toxic dose of antifreeze could never be voluntarily ingested." "This is practical legislation that can easily prevent unnecessary deaths" said Rep. Rohrabacher. "As many parents know, toddlers and young children are all too eager to try anything and have no concept of harm. The addition of a bittering agent to antifreeze is a simple way to keep our kids safe and give parents a little peace of mind." "Accidents involving the ingestion of antifreeze are tragic, not only because of the harm they cause children and pets, but because they are avoidable" Senator Pryor said. "We know that technology exists to prevent such accidents; it is simple, low-cost and the right thing to do." "This bill is important because it will help protect people, pets and businesses" Senator Allen said. "Clearly, every family wants to ensure that we make useful, needed substances as safe as possible for children and family pets. While I usually advocate allowing free people and free markets to solve their problems, the government can help, when requested, to set a safety standard. This is the least costly and most efficient way to assure that antifreeze is truly distasteful for humans and animals." "Changing the taste is a common sense solution" said Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM), an original cosponsor. "The relatively minor inconvenience and cost to antifreeze producers is clearly offset by the potential to save children, pets, livestock and wildlife from harm." The Antifreeze legislation is endorsed by the Consumer Specialty Products Association (representing the antifreeze industry), Honeywell (the leading manufacturer of antifreeze), the Doris Day Animal League, the Humane Society of the United States, the Society for Animal Protective Legislation and the Pet Food Institute. California, New Mexico and Oregon have already adopted their own laws requiring the addition of a bittering agent to antifreeze, and five other states-Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada and New York-currently have legislation pending. Further, the U.S. Conference of Mayors recently passed a resolution urging Congress to "help cities protect children and animals" by passing the Antifreeze Bittering Act. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, a deadly toxin. Antifreeze is a product that is used to prevent freezing as well as overheating in motor vehicles. Spills occur when vehicles leak the substance, overheat or when the chemical is changed or replaced. # # # ###