METHAMPHETAMINE: WIPING AWAY A HAZARDOUS DRUG

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METHAMPHETAMINE WIPING AWAYA HAZARDOUS DRUG

• PRESENTED BY SKC INC.

WWW.SKCINC.COM
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METHAMPHETAMINE DEFINING THE PROBLEM

• Methamphetamine or "meth" is a potent central
  nervous system stimulant that is highly
  addictive, cheap, and easy to produce.
• Meth is derived from commonly available
  decongestants and diet aids containing ephedrine
  or pseudoephedrine and cooked in clandestine
  (illegal) labs.

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TYPICAL METH LAB
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TYPICAL METH LAB
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USA LAB SEIZURES YEAR 2004
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RESPONDING TO METH

• Health and safety
• professionals have a
• role to play in the
• response and cleanup
• of clandestine
• meth laboratories.

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IH ROLE IN METH LABS

• To protect first-responders and other personnel
  from the hazards
• To develop health and safety plans for
  decontamination of buildings/environment
• To confirm that appropriate safe levels have
  been met prior to reoccupancy

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OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS OF METH

• WHO?
• Law enforcement
• Fire, Haz-Mat, or ambulance crews
• Social services
• Utilities services
• Landlords
• Custodial or Housekeeping staff

• WHERE?
• Homes
• Cars
• Hotel Rooms
• Storage units
• Dumpsters
• Tents/Campsites

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CHEMICAL HAZARDSIN METH PRODUCTION

• RED
• PHOSPHORUS
• METHOD
• Iodine
• Phosphine
• Sodium hydroxide
• Sulfuric acid

• NAZI
• COLD LABS
• METHOD
• Ammonia
• Sulfuric Acid
• Hydrocarbons

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CHEMICAL HAZARDSIN METH PRODUCTION

• AMALGAM/P2P
• METHOD
• Lead
• Mercury

Note Developed in the 1990s by Hells Angels
Motorcycle Gang. Not used very much now.
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ASSESSING THE RISKS

• Step 1-Information
• Gathering
• Conduct interviews with law enforcement personnel
  and examine records.

• Step 2-Walkthrough
• Inspection
• Wear PPE including respirators, gloves, and lab
  coat

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SAMPLE COLLECTION

• NIOSH reports that air sampling for individual
  contaminants is only effective during active
  cooking of meth.
• The particulate aerosol formed during meth
  production however deposits onto available
  surfaces.
• A better method for sampling meth after a cook is
  using surface wipe sampling.

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NIOSH SURFACE WIPE METHODS FOR METH

• NIOSH will be publishing two new surface wipe
  methods with GC/MS analysis Methods 9106 and
  9109.
• NIOSH also developed two colorimetric wipe kits
  for meth residue and transferred this technology
  to SKC for commercial production.

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SKC METH RESIDUE KITS

• Detects the presence of meth residue with a
  limit of identification of 15 ug/100 cm2.
• Color results develop rapidly for on-the-spot
  qualitative assessments.

• Designed to check meth remediation/ clean-up
• Can assess meth residue on surfaces with limits
  of identification relevant to state cleanup
  guidelines

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Kit includes -Gauze wipes -Disposable gloves -10
X 10 cm templates -Wetting agent spray -Developer
sprays -Color Guide Instructions and
accessories
Must be kept cool during storage/transport.
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Allows assessment of meth residues on surfaces
with limits of identification relevant to state
cleanup guidelines MethChek 500-detects 500
nanograms/100 cm2 MethChek 100-detects 100
nanograms/100 cm2 MethChek 50-detects 50
nanograms/100 cm2
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• Each kit contains solutions and multiple
  individually packaged test
• packets that include
• Gauze wipes/cotton swabs
• Disposable gloves
• Disposable 10 x 10-cm templates
• Syringes
• Pipettes
• Extractor solution in vials
• Sample storage mini bags
• Detection cartridges
• Color Quick Guide instructions
• Wetting Agent spray
• Complete Operating Instructions
• and accessories

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METH CLEANUP GUIDANCE

• Some states have published guidance documents on
  meth cleanup.
• The State of Minnesota document is available
  on-line at http//www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/
  meth/lab/guidance0106.pdf

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MICRO-VACUUM SAMPLE COLLECTION

• The Minnesota Guidance Document also recommends
  micro-vacuum sampling to qualitatively identify
  the presence of MA-contaminated dust and
  particles on building material.

Cat. No. 225-9542
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REMEDIATION STRATEGIES

• Removal of all the furnishings with a porous
  surface including carpeting
• Extensive cleanup of all smooth surfaces
  including walls
• Consider replacing HVAC system
• Closely evaluate septic system, surrounding soil,
  and building materials for contamination

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CLEARANCE STUDIESPRIOR TO REOCCUPANCY

• Why is meth itself used as the marker rather
• than other chemicals used in meth
• production?
• Meth is present at all cooks using all recipes.
• Meth is unique to drug use unlike other chemicals
  which can be present in cigarette smoke or from
  other sources in homes.
• Easy to sample meth methods available.

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CLEANUP LEVELS

• At the present time, many US states have
  regulated cleanup levels for meth prior to
  building reoccupancy and there is a lot of
  ongoing activity in this regulatory arena.
• The SKC MethChek colorimetric wipe kit is
  available in 3 levels to meet the current state
  cleanup guidelines of 50, 100, or 500 ng/100
  cm2.
• A final confirmation of meth levels using a wipe
  sample and laboratory analysis may be necessary
  prior to reoccupancy.

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CONTACT SKC FOR MORE INFORMATION

• SKC has created a separate website for complete
  information on this important public health and
  law enforcement crisis.
• See www.meth-wipe.com for information on SKC meth
  residue kits and for links to other sites with
  information on methamphetamine issues.