Meth lab decontamination
Why is it necessary to decontaminate a Meth Lab?
Understanding how meth is cooked will give you an understanding of the dangers associated with clandestine meth labs. There are typically three main methods of cooking meth, each method uses different ingredients. The 3 main common methods are listed below. Meth lab decontamination is necessary once a meth lab has been found.
| Method | Common Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Nazi | Anhydrous ammonia; Lithium batteries; Starter fluid; cold pills; Sulfuric acid; Hydrogen chloride gas; Hydrochloric acid; Nitric acid; Sodium or potassium nitrate; Ethanol; Aluminium foil |
| Red Phosphorus | Cold pills, Rubbing alcohol; Concrete cleaner; Kerosine; Acetone; Iodine crystals; Hyrodgen peroxide; Sodium hydroxide; Matchbooks; Hydriodic acid; Sulphuric acid; vinegar; Brake cleaner; Methanol; Methylamine; Calcium chloride; Nitrogen; Benzyl chloride; Ethyl ether |
| P2P | Phenylalanine; Thionyl chloride; Lithium aluminium hydride; Sodium borohydride; Vaporized chlormethane; Gaseous Pyride |
If you didn’t notice most of the chemicals mentioned in the above table are easily purchased over the counter at hardware stores, chemists and even grocery stores. It is for this reason that Meth Labs are popping up all over Australia, getting high is cheaper on meth. The problem with this is the waste products that producing meth leaves, for every 1kilo of ice created there is 7 times that amount in waste.
Chemical hazards from meth precursors
The below table shows some potential hazards from each of the chemicals that are used for the production of ice.
| Acetone | Reproductive damage, unconsciousness, nausea, kidney/liver damage |
|---|---|
| Ammonia | Lung damage, burns, blindness |
| Benzene | Anemia, depressed immune system, nausea, carcinogen |
| Ether | Coma, respiratory, irritation, fire/explosion hazard |
| Freon | Cardiac arrhythmia, asphyxiation, aggravates heart conditions |
| Hydrocloric acid | Death due to fluid in the lungs, severe corrosion |
| Iodine | Skin, lung, and reproductive organ damage |
| Lithium | Serious burns especially on wet skin or eyes, reacts violently with water |
| Phosphine gas | Abdominal pain, nausea, brochitis, pulmonary edema, death, anemia, frostbite, gastrotointestinal problems |
| Red phosphorus | Eye irritation, liver damage, blood disorders, flammable |
| Pseudoephedrine | Health damage from abuse |
| Sodium hydroxide | Severe burns, fluid in lungs, loss of pulse, blindness, death |
| Sodium hydroxide | Severe burns, respiratory irritation, ingestion can result in death |
| Sulfuric acid | Sever burns, respiratory irritation, ingestion, ingestion can result in death |
| Toluene | Memory loss, nausea, confusion, hearing loss, loss of color vision, kidney failure, death |
Each of the above chemicals are hazardous in their own right but when they are in an enclosed area in nondescript containers a potential deadly scenario can unfold. Meth cooks do not adhere to the policy’s of safe work practices or follow OH&S regulations.
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