PAW-PRINTS
Article taken from the Newsletter of the American Animal Hospital
Association Fall 1988
Antifreeze Poisoning Alert
As the season changes to fall and we prepare for winter many of us will
fill and change antifreeze in
our car's radiator. The accidental spills and small puddles left after the
task doesn't really alarm us.
Nor does the pan of old antifreee left lying outside or in the garage. But
antifreeze poisoning in
dogs and cats is common because of its ease of availability and sweet
taste. Dogs and cats living
outdoors in subfreezing temperatures may find that the only unfrozen water
available is in the
puddles where radiators were drained. Also, younger dogs and cats tend to
roam in curiosity and
may taste this sweet liquid.
Commercial antifreeze solutions contain 95 percent ethylene glycol which is
the toxic agent. The
prognosis for animals poisoned with ethylene lycol depends on how much was
ingested and when
treatment can be started. Early diagnosis is imperative in order to treat
the animal effectively.
Ethylene glycol is a colorless, odorless liquid that is rapidly absorbed
from the intestines. Within 20
to 30 minutes after ingestion, signs of vomiting, lack of muscle
coordination, weakness,
convulsions, and coma may be seen. These signs are related to the
irritating effects of the ethylene
glycol on the intestines and entry of it into the nervous system. Most
animals survive this first phase
and appear normal within 6 to 1 hours following exposure. By 12 to 24 hours
after ingestion, the
animal starts showing signs of severe kidney and nervous damage. Once the
animal has entered this
latter stage, treatment is of little help. In some cases the animal may
have been seen drinking the
antifreeze. If not, diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs and
laboratory findings.
Remember, early diagnosis is imperative in order to treat effectively. For
the safety of your pet and
others, store and dispose of antifreeze properly.
Stay tuned for more hints from our friendly vet.
MORE>>>
Automotive antifreeze is usually made from an ethylene glycol formulation.
Such antifreeze can be
re-refined to produce pure ethylene glycol, which can then be used to
manufacture new antifreeze.
Antifreeze has been "recycled" in many ways. The most pure ethylene glycol
is obtained with a
fractional distillation process, in which ethylene glycol is isolated and
contaminants are virtually
eliminated. Many filtration systems do not achieve the purity
specifications required by warranties
of equipment manufacturers. Filtration system users must be certain that
the use of the filtered
material is allowable under warranty requirements and they should routinely
obtain laboratory test
results to ensure that they are within warranty tolerances.
Propylene glycol can also be used as the basis for antifreeze and there is
some interest in this
material because propylene glycol is somewhat less toxic than ethylene
glycol in its pure state.
However, because antifreeze accumulates toxic impurities as it is used in
the engine, the toxicity of
propylene glycol it its pure state is relatively unimportant and the higher
cost and lower performance
of propylene glycol antifreeze currently preclude itsuse. Another
consideration is that if propylene
glycol becomes mixed with ethylene glycol in waste antifreeze, the mixture
cannot be recycled.
AND FINALLY>>>>>
Question:
I've heard about a new "environmentally safe" nonpoisonous antifreeze. What
is it?
Answer:
It's propylene glycol (PG) antifreeze, sold under the "Sierra" brand name.
Every other brand of
antifreeze contains ethylene glycol (EG).
Antifreeze made with propylene glycol is being marketed as a "safer"
alternative to ordinary
antifreeze. Though it is by no means safe to drink, it is significantly
less toxic than ordinary
ethylene glycol antifreeze -- which may be a important difference to pet
owners and parents of small
children. PG also has an unpleasant taste which discourages further
sampling by thirsty animals and
toddlers. Safety is an important issue with coolants because of the
frequency of spills, leaks and
improper disposal.
According to one supplier of PG-based antifreeze, over 3,000 people in the
U.S. were treated for
ingesting antifreeze in 1991 (the latest year for which figures were
available). Eight of them died.
Had the antifreeze they ingested contained PG instead of EG, the
consequences may not have been
so dire.
Because of its significant safety advantages, PG coolants represent far
less risk to wildlife in case of
spills, leaks, or careless disposal. Because of this it can be claimed that
PG coolants have an
environmental benefit. However, both PG and EG are biodegradable and both
may pick up lead or
other heavy metals once they've been used in a cooling system. Both types
of coolants, after being
used, should be disposed of properly and in compliance with local regulations.
Though some auto makers were initially cautious about using PG when it was
first introduced, GM
has now said that propylene glycol may be used in GM vehicles without
voiding the manufacturer's
warranty coverage and will perform adequately under most vehicle operating
conditions. Most
vehicle manufacturers, however, don't currently use PG as a factory-fill
antifreeze because of its
higher cost (about $1 more per gallon at retail). .......ANTIFREEZE
DISPOSAL & RECYCLING
Regardless of the type of antifreeze you use, it should be disposed of
properly. In many areas, it is
okay to flush used coolant down the toilet (sanitary sewer) as long as the
amount does not exceed a
few gallons. But it should not be poured down a floor drain or into a storm
sewer.
Both types of antifreeze are biodegradable but take some time to break
down. Dumping used
antifreeze into a storm sewer, ditch, creek or on the ground can
contaminate ground water and kill
plants and fish. What's more, used antifreeze picks up lead from solder in
copper/brass radiators.
Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can also cause pollution problems of its own.
Some areas prohibit ANY dumping of used coolant (sanitary or storm sewers).
They also may not
accept used antifreeze in a sealed container for landfill collection
because eventually the container
will leak its contents into the ground causing possible ground water
contamination.
So how do you get rid of the stuff? You can take it to a local collection
center that accepts used
antifreeze for disposal or recycling, you can pay to have it disposed of as
a hazardous waste (yeah,
right) -- or you can take your vehicle to a garage or service facility that
has a coolant recycling
machine. The latter is the best choice because it eliminates the disposal
problem altogether.
Coolant recycling machines work their magic by a variety of means. Some use
filtration while
others use a distillation process to remove the harmful contaminants from
the old antifreeze.
Corrosion inhibiting chemicals are then added to restore the coolant's
corrosion protection. The auto
makers have all approved coolant recycling as an effective means of
eliminating coolant disposal
problems, and each publishes a list of machines that meet their
specifications. Recycled coolant
must meet minimum standards of purity before it can be reused.
Ciao!
Marshall
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(O) \tr3/ (O)
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1959 TS 54979L
"Driving in my car,
smoking my cigar,
the only time I'm happy is when I play my guitar..."
Cream
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