AUGUSTA — Starting today, all antifreeze and engine coolant sold in Maine must contain a bitter-tasting agent to deter children, pets and wildlife from ingesting the normally sweet, toxic liquid.

The Legislature passed a bill in 2007 that required the addition of the bitter-tasting agent, according to the Humane Society of the United States, which has more than 73,000 supporters in Maine.

The Maine law delayed implementation until three other Northeastern states passed similar legislation. Since then, New Jersey, Vermont and, one year ago, Massachusetts adopted similar laws.

“Now that the Maine law has finally gone into effect, it will help reduce the number of child poisonings and save the lives of thousands of animals each year,” said Katie Lisnik, Maine state director of the humane society.

An estimated 1,400 children and 10,000 animals are poisoned nationally each year after ingesting ethylene glycol, a highly toxic chemical used antifreeze and engine coolants, according to the Humane Society.

The agent to be added by manufacturers is denatonium benzoate, which is considered the most bitter chemical available.

The Maine law doesn’t require manufacturers to label antifreeze that contains the bitter agent.

A few hardware and auto parts stores contacted in the Portland area today were unaware of the new law and had antifreeze for sale that didn’t list denatonium benzoate among the ingredients.

Other states with similar laws are: Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

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