By Timothy Perone, USCM Intern
July 25, 2005

Albuquerque Mayor Martin J. Chávez submitted testimony July 18 in support of the Antifreeze Bittering Agent Act of 2005 to a hearing of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Product Safety, and Insurance.

The legislation would require manufacturers to add a bittering agent, denatonium benzoate (DB), to antifreeze to remove its sweet taste and make it revolting to children and animals.

In his testimony, Chávez pointed out that in very small doses, antifreeze can be lethal. He cited a report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers that stated, in 2001, there were 4938 human exposures to ethylene glycol, the agent in antifreeze which makes it taste sweet, and 713 involved children under six years old. Chávez also stated how the recent deaths of three children in New Mexico have been attributed to antifreeze. Chávez cited a report from the Washington State University Veterinary Medical School, estimating that 10,000 dogs are poisoned annually. To highlight the antifreeze’s threat to animals and give greater awareness to the legislation, Senate Subcommittee Chairman George Allen (VA) invited about a dozen dogs to the hearing.

Chávez’s testimony also highlighted Albuquerque’s success in adding DB to antifreeze, which has prevented many tragedies. By Chávez describing the process by which Albuquerque implemented the requirement of DB in antifreeze, he made a strong advocate for the adoption of a national standard. Chávez described how Albuquerque worked with the relevant business community to ensure a policy that would be both effective and feasible and for the additional cost to be minimal. Chávez was also able to report about the popularity of the initiative and further the argument of adding DB to antifreeze as a national requirement.