| Questions and Answers About Meth Labs  Methamphetamine (meth) is a potent amphetamine, typically produced from over-the-counter cold medications and sold illegally in pill form, capsules, powder, and chunks. Meth stimulates the central nervous system, is extremely addictive, and can cause an intense, prolonged withdrawal. Users' behavior may be violent, paranoid, and combative. Common street names for methamphetamine include: speed, crank, glass, crystal, ice, and zip. Meth can be swallowed, snorted, smoked or injected.
Top of page >> Methamphetamine is made from common, readily-available materials, using one of many different chemical processes. There are more than 200 substances that can be used to produce meth, depending on the method used. Many potentially dangerous chemical ingredients are used and additional chemicals are formed during manufacture.  Various meth recipes include the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), explosives, acids, bases, metals, solvents, and salts. Meth manufacture creates the potential for explosions, chemical fires, and the release of toxic gases. The processes also result in sludge and liquid wastes with the potential to contaminate a structure and its contents, the air, and the groundwater or soil where they are deposited. Five to seven pounds of chemical waste is produced for each pound of meth manufactured.
 After a lab has been abandoned or shut down by law enforcement, the property is usually found to be contaminated with hazardous chemicals. Clandestine labs use improvised equipment, without regard to safety. An example is the frequent use of propane tanks to hold pressurized corrosive anhydrous ammonia. Ammonia corrodes the brass fittings on propane tanks creating the potential for leakage or explosion.
Top of page >>  The labs being found are mostly temporary, makeshift operations set up in apartments, storage facilities, motel and hotel rooms, campsites, fields, vacant buildings, and vehicles. Discarded lab equipment and chemical waste are also being found in roadside ditches.
Top of page >> Acute toxic exposures can occur during drug manufacture to "cookers", their families and children, as well as first responders. Health effects caused by exposure to meth lab chemicals depend on the process and chemicals used, the amount of chemical and length of exposure, and the health of the person being exposed. The greatest dangers during cooking are from fire, explosion and the accidental creation of lethal chemical by-products. Additionally, chemicals may enter the body by inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. An acute exposure to meth lab chemicals can cause shortness of breath; cough; chest pain; dizziness; lack of coordination; chemical irritation; burns to skin, eyes, nose, and mouth; and in severe cases, death. Less severe exposures can result in symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue or lethargy. These symptoms have been known to occur in people who have entered a drug lab after discovery of a lab but before the property has been completely cleaned or ventilated. These less-severe symptoms usually go away after several hours of exposure to fresh air. Chronic exposure to meth lab chemicals or byproducts has the potential to cause both long-and short-term health effects. For example, long-term exposure to VOCs may result in liver and kidney damage, neurological problems, and increased risk of cancer. Even at low levels, the presence of many chemicals found in illegal labs can be dangerous to human health. Exposure to these levels for months and years could have significant health effects. Top of page >> An individual who believes he or she has discovered an illegal drug lab or the site of an abandoned lab should immediately notify local law enforcement and should not enter the area of the suspected lab. Any individual who inadvertently enters a lab should leave immediately without disturbing any cooking process, chemicals or equipment. Confrontation with makers of illegal drugs is very dangerous and is strongly discouraged. Top of page >> Local law enforcement determines the next steps, such as notifying the DEA (the Drug Enforcement Agency), BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), or other agencies. Lab sites should only be entered by persons trained in handling meth lab materials who are accompanied by law enforcement personnel with a warrant. If a lab is discovered while drugs are being processed, a trained hazardous materials professional will determine safe means for shutting down the equipment and process. After halting the process, first responders at a lab seizure will remove or arrange removal of chemicals, finished product, weapons, cash, and waste products. This may include employment of a hazardous materials team. Law enforcement will also post the building entrance with a warning that a clandestine lab had operated at the site and hazardous substances or waste products may be on-site. This usually ends involvement by law enforcement and first responders. Top of page >> Neither law enforcement nor MPCA will evaluate the degree of interior cleanup needed, or arrange for cleanup within a contaminated structure. Presently, no state agency ensures that interior cleanup is conducted, although recommended cleanup guidelines are available from MDH. Local agencies may be able to require cleanup of a lab with 'public nuisance' statutes or local housing ordinances, but these measures not always successful. Top of page >> Local health departments appear to have limited authority to enforce cleanup of labs. Unless a local jurisdiction has applicable housing regulations, involvement may be limited to those labs that were conducted at a licensed facility or those that pose an obvious public health threat . MDH does have general cleanup guidelines for cleanup contractors, and recommendations on protecting the health of individuals reoccupying property that housed a clandestine drug lab. Once officials are notified of a lab, action should be taken to restrict access to contaminated areas and to ensure that the licensee or owner of the property has contacted a competent environmental consultant to evaluate the situation and perform cleanup Law enforcement staff should be asked what methods and chemicals were used in the lab. Consultants need this information to make their evaluation. Local health department and MDH staff are not first responders and should not enter the lab until it has been decontaminated and cleaned up. Most staff lack training in lab cleanup and are not qualified to evaluate lab sites, to determine cleanup methods, or to evaluate the effectiveness of a cleanup This should be left to environmental consultants or companies who have qualified staff with chemical spill expertise. Top of page >> Bay West, West Central Environmental has done this type of work. The MDH cannot endorse products or services but provides this information as a public service. Top of page >> In rare cases, demolition of a structure may be necessary. In a few cases, a determination of "no further action required" may be made after ventilation and the removal of chemicals, apparatus, and wastes left at the site. Most situations will require a middle course including: A) inspection of plumbing and ventilation systems, and B) the following cleanup protocol: removal (or detergent scrubbing) of furnishings or porous materials; detergent washing; repeated venting; neutralization of chemical residue; and sealing of surfaces with oil-based paints. Top of page >> Before allowing the site to be reoccupied, staff should require documentation showing that the lab site has been decontaminated and ventilated. If the lab was in a lodging establishment, the State Fire Marshal's office(651/ 215-0500) should be contacted for an inspection of the smoke alarm and sprinkler systems, since they may have been deliberately disabled. Top of page >> Several agencies are active in a multi-agency taskforce whose goal is to plan and implement an efficient, coordinated, statewide response to clandestine labs. Task force members include: the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Public Safety (including the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and State Fire Marshal), Natural Resources, Agriculture, Human Services, Transportation, and Pollution Control, and the office of the Attorney General. Each of these agencies has a special interest in, and different activities related to illegal drug labs: The Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and State Fire Marshal are providing meth lab response training and appropriate equipment throughout the state for local law enforcement and fire personnel. BCA and other Public Safety staff make presentations to many different groups informing and educating them about meth lab concerns. BCA maintains a list of Certified Clan Lab Investigators. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is concerned with the hazards of meth labs and meth lab hazardous waste on public land. They are working on methods of warning fishermen, hunters and others about these hazards. The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Agriculture (MDA) are particularly concerned with the dangers associated with propane gas tanks which have been converted to store stolen anhydrous ammonia for use in meth labs. They have produced materials regarding safe transportation and disposal of improperly stored anhydrous. DOT has warned its 50,000 highway cleanup volunteers about meth lab waste piles in ditches and along roadways. The Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is involved in environmental clean-ups at meth lab sites. These may include cleanups of soil or groundwater contaminated by illegal burning or dumping of meth lab chemicals and equipment. MPCA has also assisted law enforcement agencies in removal of chemicals from lab sites and with their evaluation of lab site hazards to responding personnel. The Office of the Attorney General is vigorously prosecuting meth manufacturers on issues of child endangerment (50% of prosecuted labs have had children living in them) as well as for drug offenses. Top of page >> Child welfare issues should be discussed with child protection authorities. The State Office of the Attorney General has been very active in several meth lab casesTop of page >> Top of page >> |