Absolutely. I didn't mean to imply different. Drinking ethylene glycol
will destroy your kidneys. Dogs, cats and rug rats are particularly
susceptible. By "not very toxic" I meant only that the LD50 is measured in
grams, not micrograms, and it's not carcinogenic or anything.
Personally, I think it tastes pretty awful, and my dog seems to agree.
Still, I'm careful not to leave it out, and to wash away any that gets
spilled.
Even propylene glycol is bad for you, if you drink enough at once. But,
it's no more toxic to humans than ethanol (aka liquor, booze, etc.). I
wouldn't let my kids or pets drink either one <g>
BTW, I once asked a local city official what to do with antifreeze, he said
the sanitary sewer (ie toilet) was OK, but not to put it in storm drains.
If it is spilled into a storm drain, it should be diluted with plenty of
fresh water.
Common antifreeze is ethylene glycol, but you can also buy (at least in the
US) 'green' antifreeze that is propylene glycol. And, the 'Bluecol' that
my TR3 manual talks about as antifreeze was actually ethanol (so I've
heard), presumably 'denatured' so it couldn't be drunk.
Randall
On Friday, June 11, 1999 3:18 PM, Sam Gentry [SMTP:hsgentry@cfw.com] wrote:
>
> At the risk of starting something I feel that I must point out that
> conventional antifreeze (ethylene glycol I think) is toxic. At least to
> household pets. Dogs and cats love to drink the stuff and it will kill
> them. I have a friend who is a small animal vet and he gets a cat or dog
> with antifreeze poisoning very frequently. Be very careful what you do
> with the stuff. If a container is left open outside you can be almost
> certain that a local pet will drink it. Apparently it is sweet tasting.
I
> bet a rug rat would do the same. It is easily recycled, but I have
trouble
> finding anyone who does it. I think (but not sure) that the public sewer
> is OK as long as no animals can get to it.
>
> Sam
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