是甜的，貓狗吃了都不行了

Antifreeze—
Hazards and Responsible Use (ZT)

 

Introduction

In California, it is illegal to dispose of antifreeze in the trash or down storm drains. Antifreeze is a hazardous material and must be managed properly to protect public health and the environment.

This fact sheet explains what antifreeze is and presents practical ideas for using, storing, recycling, and disposing of it.

What Is Antifreeze?

Most antifreeze is used as an engine coolant and consists of a water and ethylene glycol solution that is added to radiator water in motor vehicles.  Antifreeze keeps the water in our car and truck engines from boiling over on hot days and freezing on very cold days.  It also protects our engines from corrosion.

Auto maintenance experts recommend that radiators be flushed every one to two years. Antifreeze becomes contaminated during the normal operation of a motor vehicle.  This is due to the fact that minerals such as lead or other trace metals from the radiator build up in the antifreeze.  Because antifreeze contains ethylene glycol and other trace metals, care must be taken in disposal of used antifreeze as well as storage of new antifreeze.

Health and Environmental Effects

Ethylene glycol is a clear, colorless, liquid.  Its sweet taste makes it attractive to children, pets, and wildlife.  Because ethylene glycol is toxic, it could have serious adverse health effects if taken internally, including respiratory and cardiac failure.

Additionally, if antifreeze is carelessly disposed of, such as poured into a storm drain, ditch, or river,  or on the ground, or if it is placed with regular trash, it can threaten the health of animals or people and can harm the environment.

What Can I Do?

Buy only what you need.

Before flushing your radiator, calculate how much antifreeze you will need to purchase to complete the job.  If you do end up with more than you need, consider donating the extra to a friend, high school auto shop, or mechanic, since opened antifreeze does not go bad.

An alternative to buying antifreeze containing ethylene glycol is to buy a type that contains propylene glycol.  Propylene glycol is much less toxic to children, pets, and wildlife.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration generally regards it as safer than antifreeze containing ethylene glycol.

Use it properly.

Do not remove your vehicle’s radiator cap after the engine has been running because if the fluid is heated, dangerous amounts of ethylene glycol vapors can be quickly inhaled.  Handle antifreeze in an area that is well ventilated, and clean up any spills with absorbent materials (kitty litter, shredded newspaper, vermiculite, etc.)  Bag waste-absorbent material and discard it in the trash.

Store it, recycle it, and dispose of it properly.

Following are some tips for proper storage of used antifreeze, as well as some recycling pointers.

• Collect and store used antifreeze in a sealed, labeled container, away from heat, children, pets, and wildlife.
• Recycle used antifreeze or dispose of it properly.  You can do this by contacting a local radiator shop and asking if they collect used antifreeze for recycling or proper disposal. Another option for disposal is to take the antifreeze to a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facility or save it for an HHW collection event (see “For More Information” to find locations of household hazardous waste programs).
• Keep in mind that although empty antifreeze containers can be thrown in the trash, your local solid waste or HHW collection programs may be collecting them for recycling.  A container is considered empty if no antifreeze pours out when it is held upside down.

For More Information

To learn more about recycling and properly disposing of used antifreeze, call your local environmental health department.  You can also call Earth’s 911 at 1-800-CLEANUP or access the Web site for Earth’s 911 (www.1800cleanup.org) to find HHW waste collection programs in your area.

Publications

You may order this document and other publications by:

• Phone: 1-800-CA-WASTE (CIWMB publications clearinghouse).
• Internet: Access our online publications catalog at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Publications/ and select “Household Hazardous Waste” to see what is available and order on line. You may also view and/or download most of our publications through this site.

 

Grants

Perhaps your city or county can benefit from a grant that helps provide HHW and used oil collection opportunities in your community.  For information on HHW and used oil grants, call
[phone]  or visit our Web site at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Grants/.

Hazardous Waste Management

The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) provides information on household hazardous waste.  The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), one of our sister organizations under the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA), regulates hazardous waste management in California.

Contact the nearest DTSC field office duty officer for more information on hazardous waste management practices.  To locate the nearest field office, check the department’s Web site at www.dtsc.ca.gov or call DTSC’s main information number: [phone].