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Crystal Methamphetamine (Meth) Crystal methamphetamine (meth) can be a significant source of environmental contamination within a variety of building types. Contamination can be the result of drug usage or manufacture. Historically, many clandestine manufacturing labs were located in single family residential structures; however, apartments, commercial warehouse or storage spaces, mobile homes, and recreational vehicles have also been utilized in the manufacture of this illegal drug.
Originally the result of Nazi-Germany’s research as a “performance enhancing drug” for their “super-soldiers”, meth can be now be made from many “over-the-counter” products and recipes for its preparation are readily obtainable. The relative ease of product manufacture, its associated high street value, and highly addictive properties for the user have led to an unprecedented level of clandestine laboratories. During the various manufacturing processes within these labs, a variety of ingredients and produced secondary contaminants can be extremely hazardous and may even be toxic within indoor environments. In addition, the final meth product can also pose a serious health threat within the indoor environment.
Who may be affected by the presence of a clandestine meth lab? First responders to the scene may have the most significant exposure hazard. Typically, law enforcement and fire fighting personnel receive training to assist with the visual identification of a lab. Once a laboratory has been identified, law enforcement personnel conducting additional investigation activities, clean-up crews, and building tenants, managers, or owners all may have potential exposure hazards. Once the laboratory has been “cleaned-up”, re-modeling contractors and the property’s new occupants may indeed have the potential for contaminant exposure.
Currently the State of Texas does not regulate the clean up of meth contaminated property. As a result of this, many properties may not be appropriately de-contaminated nor finally assessed to verify the effectiveness of the remediation procedures. This has undoubtedly led to numerous cases of meth exposure to many un-witting occupants in a variety of situations.
Since there are currently no regulatory requirements for this type of property contamination, what can be done to help ensure property is appropriately handled? Argus Environmental can help property owners and managers involved with a meth-contaminated property control their liability in the following ways:
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