Category Archives: Meth House Buyer Beware!

Over the past few years, the illegal production of methamphetamine has increased substantially in many regions of the United States. The manufacture of this drug has caused billions of dollars in property damage and, more importantly, has become a health hazard to people through use and subsequent contamination in homes.

During the meth manufacturing process, chemical compounds become airborne (volatilized) and settle out; depositing onto walls, ceilings, appliances, floors, carpets, and other typical household items throughout the structure’s interior. In addition, chemicals used to make the illegal drug may be spilled during handling. Meth can also be distributed throughout the structure via the use of the drug.

The presence of these chemicals may pose health threats to occupants and potential liability to property owners. Due to the seriousness of this problem, close to two dozen states have adopted regulatory testing and decontamination standards and many more will likely follow suit before the end of this decade.

Properties in which law enforcement has made an arrest or that a health department has deemed unfit, will be posted against entry with signs warning of possible chemical contamination. Occupation of properties where meth labs have been discovered will usually be prohibited until after assessment and/or remediation by a certified clandestine drug lab decontamination contractor in accordance with the law. The posted warning signs prohibit anyone from entering the property unless they are certified to do so.

Many of the properties identified as former meth labs are discovered through means other than by law enforcement. Contamination is often discovered during a property assessment in response to health complaints by occupants, information from neighbors regarding a prior occupant, or as part of a real estate transaction. Meth screenings are often conducted in these cases to gain information regarding potential meth contamination at the property. These screenings are outside the scope of most state’s clandestine drug lab cleanup regulations.

It should be noted that meth screenings apply to situations where there is no evidence of a meth lab. If the presence of a meth lab is known or suspected, then a preliminary assessment must be conducted by a certified clandestine drug lab decontamination specialist in accordance with regulation (if the state is regulated for Clandestine Drug Lab Decontamination). If the screening assessment confirms the property is contaminated then it is subject to the statutory and regulatory requirements for meth lab decontamination.

The National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) members agree to perform inspections in accordance with NAHI® Standards, Code of Ethics, and applicable law(s). The Standards are not intended to limit members from performing “additional inspection services.” Many home inspectors in the state of Utah are now offering meth residue screenings as an additional service. These inspectors are testing properties that have not been posted as uninhabitable; properties in which the inspector is testing at the request of the property owner to determine whether any possible methamphetamine use or production activity may have taken place in the past.

Although meth is not the only drug manufactured in clandestine labs, it is the most common. The “cooking” of meth can involve a large variety of chemical reagents (depending on the specific method of manufacture). In general, the process involves precursor reagents, organic solvents, and reactive reagents that facilitate the conversion of the precursor into methamphetamine. The chemicals used are typically purchased, stolen, or illegally manufactured.

Even though many of these chemicals are commonly found in households and can be “safe” when used appropriately, their inherent dangers increase when used inappropriately or in combination with other chemicals during the meth production process. Improper storage and disposal of these chemicals and mixtures also creates hazards.

There are many methods for making meth. Most meth “cooks” use variations of the Anhydrous Ammonia method and Red P lab method that utilizes red phosphorous. Other, less common, methods include the P2P or Amalgam method.

ACTIVE LABS

A functioning drug lab presents the greatest risk of adverse health effects for occupants. A site found to be a drug manufacturing site must be considered unsafe for entry, except by trained personnel using appropriate personal protective equipment. Acute illness with immediate onset of symptoms from massive chemical exposure is a significant risk in this situation.

Use: Cold Tablets, solvents, and coffee filters
Wastes: Solvent vapors, ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, binder from tablets, and coffee filters. Solvent evaporates or may be reused.

– inhalation
– contact skin exposure; absorption – ingestion (swallowing)
– injection

Inhalation and/or skin exposure (absorption) are the most likely routes of exposure for persons entering the drug lab environment. There is the potential of toxicity from all routes of exposure to the chemicals in a drug lab; i.e., ingestion and injection of the drug, absorption of chemicals spilled onto the skin, adsorption of chemicals deposited onto the skin from vapors, and inhalation of vapors. Due to their continuing brain development and special developmental behaviors (such as crawling on the floor and placing objects in their mouths), infants and young children may be at a greater health risk from exposure to chemicals and drugs in methamphetamine laboratories.

Inhalation or skin exposure may result in injury from corrosive substances, with symptoms ranging from respiratory symptoms of shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain, to burns of the skin. Many solvents are absorbed into the body through the lungs and, if the dose is sufficient, may cause neurological symptoms such as intoxication, dizziness, lack of coordination, disorientation, and nausea. The skin, to a lesser extent, may also absorb some solvents if chemicals remain in direct contact. Ingestion of chemicals will result in the greatest risk of toxicity. If residual chemical is present on surfaces, a child may accidentally ingest these chemicals.

The final methamphetamine product has considerable potential for adverse health effects in the drug user and persons accidentally exposed. Residual methamphetamine present on surfaces may pose a risk to adults with increased risks to small children and pets. In addition, drugs produced in illicit drug labs contain an abundance of contaminants and byproducts that do not have predictable effects on the drug user. Impurities found in some drugs produced in these labs have resulted in severe and permanent neurological disability following intravenous injection.

As previously stated, after the meth cooking process has stopped, most of the hazards decrease. However, some residual contamination created from repeated “cooks” can persist long after all production has ceased. These residual chemicals can be volatilized or aerosolized during the cooking process and deposit on surfaces and in materials. Airborne contaminants are absorbed into soft materials including rugs, furniture, drapes, walls and other surfaces and may also contaminate the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the structure. Spills are common in meth labs, and may impact floors, walls, appliances, and other surfaces. Chemicals used in the cooking, which may be hazardous, may be dumped down the sinks, toilets, or drains in the kitchen or bathrooms and leave contamination in the waste water system.

Clandestine drug laboratory properties often contain items such as stained coffee filters, plastic hosing, disabled smoke detectors, weapons, pornography, and drug paraphernalia. Excessive locks on interior doors are also indicators. 

Now, because of science and technology, many of these properties can be saved for much less than the price of replacement.

NOTE: Most insurance company policies do not cover the damage created by a clan lab. Recently, several law firms are assisting property owners in their attempt at coverage under claims of vandalism or malicious mischief.

“For many years it was thought that a meth lab property could not be decontaminated; which usually led to its destruction. In many areas of the country this is still the common practice.”