Meth Lab Blues
August 29, 2011 8:41 PM Subscribe
Meth Lab Blues.
My Girlfriend's downstairs neighbors were apparently cooking meth. They were busted a few days ago while we were away on vacation. We found out about an hour ago. My girlfriend lives on the top floor of a residential house that is subdivided into apartments. (There are about 4 apartments and ten residents). One of the ground floor residents was producing meth. At this point in time, we do not yet have information from the authorities on the extent of the activity, the likely exposure to my girlfriends apartment, etc. Nonetheless I have a few specific questions about this situation:
(1) can anyone provide me with a reference to a reliable source on long-term effects of living near a meth lab? I would like to figure out what the possible exposure risks are/were.
(2) If the local authorities say that the residence is safe, should we believe them? Is it ever safe to live in an apartment that has been close (in the same structure as) a meth lab?
Any additional resources or advice on this situation would be much appreciated. (We will be retaining an attorney).
My Girlfriend's downstairs neighbors were apparently cooking meth. They were busted a few days ago while we were away on vacation. We found out about an hour ago. My girlfriend lives on the top floor of a residential house that is subdivided into apartments. (There are about 4 apartments and ten residents). One of the ground floor residents was producing meth. At this point in time, we do not yet have information from the authorities on the extent of the activity, the likely exposure to my girlfriends apartment, etc. Nonetheless I have a few specific questions about this situation:
(1) can anyone provide me with a reference to a reliable source on long-term effects of living near a meth lab? I would like to figure out what the possible exposure risks are/were.
(2) If the local authorities say that the residence is safe, should we believe them? Is it ever safe to live in an apartment that has been close (in the same structure as) a meth lab?
Any additional resources or advice on this situation would be much appreciated. (We will be retaining an attorney).
This Meth Lab Cleanup FAQ sheet says
9. What is the exposure risk from active meth labs?
A functioning meth lab presents the greatest risk of adverse health effects for occupants,
neighbors and law enforcement personnel. Fire and explosion present the greatest immediate
risk due to the relatively large amounts of volatile solvents normally found at these sites. The
cooking process also generates toxic gases such as phosphine gas, hydriodic acid gas, and
hydrogen chloride gas.
In addition to inhalation or skin exposure risks, children living in a drug lab environment
typically are in contact with the floor and other contaminated surfaces, and thus have a higher
potential for exposure due to ingesting chemicals.
10. Why the concern about cleaning up illegal meth labs?
Typically after a lab is discovered by law enforcement, the bulk of any lab-related debris is
removed. After removal of the illicit laboratory equipment and chemicals, residual amounts of
meth, chemicals and byproducts may persist on interior surfaces and furnishings prior to cleanup.
4 Substances present in the active lab as gases or volatile solvents dissipate rapidly when ventilated, but can persist in interior areas if these materials are absorbed into the furnishings, carpets or walls. Depending on the cooking process used, the length of time the site was used, and the housekeeping practices of the cook, risk of exposure at a former meth lab can be
significant until the area is cleaned up.
Potential areas of contamination can be divided into primary and secondary areas. Typical
primary areas of contamination include:
• Processing or "cooking" areas: Significant contamination in these areas may be caused
by spills, boil-overs, explosions, or by chemical fumes and gases created during the
heating and distilling portions of the "cooking" process. Indoor areas affected may
include floors, walls, ceilings, used glassware and containers, working surfaces, furniture,
carpeting, draperies and other textile products, plumbing fixtures and drains, or heating
and air-conditioning vents.
• Disposal areas: Indoor areas include sinks, toilets, bathtubs, floor drains, vents, vent fans
and chimney flues. Outdoor areas may include soil, surface water, groundwater,
dumpsters, sewer or storm systems, septic systems and cesspools.
• Storage areas: Contamination may be caused by leaks, spills or open containers.
Secondary areas of contamination may include:
• Locations where contamination has migrated, such as hallways or high-traffic areas.
• Common areas in multiple dwelling structures and adjacent apartments or rooms may
also be contaminated.
• Common ventilation or plumbing systems in hotels and multiple dwellings.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:11 PM on August 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
9. What is the exposure risk from active meth labs?
A functioning meth lab presents the greatest risk of adverse health effects for occupants,
neighbors and law enforcement personnel. Fire and explosion present the greatest immediate
risk due to the relatively large amounts of volatile solvents normally found at these sites. The
cooking process also generates toxic gases such as phosphine gas, hydriodic acid gas, and
hydrogen chloride gas.
In addition to inhalation or skin exposure risks, children living in a drug lab environment
typically are in contact with the floor and other contaminated surfaces, and thus have a higher
potential for exposure due to ingesting chemicals.
10. Why the concern about cleaning up illegal meth labs?
Typically after a lab is discovered by law enforcement, the bulk of any lab-related debris is
removed. After removal of the illicit laboratory equipment and chemicals, residual amounts of
meth, chemicals and byproducts may persist on interior surfaces and furnishings prior to cleanup.
4 Substances present in the active lab as gases or volatile solvents dissipate rapidly when ventilated, but can persist in interior areas if these materials are absorbed into the furnishings, carpets or walls. Depending on the cooking process used, the length of time the site was used, and the housekeeping practices of the cook, risk of exposure at a former meth lab can be
significant until the area is cleaned up.
Potential areas of contamination can be divided into primary and secondary areas. Typical
primary areas of contamination include:
• Processing or "cooking" areas: Significant contamination in these areas may be caused
by spills, boil-overs, explosions, or by chemical fumes and gases created during the
heating and distilling portions of the "cooking" process. Indoor areas affected may
include floors, walls, ceilings, used glassware and containers, working surfaces, furniture,
carpeting, draperies and other textile products, plumbing fixtures and drains, or heating
and air-conditioning vents.
• Disposal areas: Indoor areas include sinks, toilets, bathtubs, floor drains, vents, vent fans
and chimney flues. Outdoor areas may include soil, surface water, groundwater,
dumpsters, sewer or storm systems, septic systems and cesspools.
• Storage areas: Contamination may be caused by leaks, spills or open containers.
Secondary areas of contamination may include:
• Locations where contamination has migrated, such as hallways or high-traffic areas.
• Common areas in multiple dwelling structures and adjacent apartments or rooms may
also be contaminated.
• Common ventilation or plumbing systems in hotels and multiple dwellings.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:11 PM on August 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
The cooking process also generates toxic gases such as phosphine gas, hydriodic acid gas, and hydrogen chloride gas
All of these are pretty strong nasal membrane irritants. You'd know if you were being exposed to troublesome levels.
posted by flabdablet at 9:42 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
All of these are pretty strong nasal membrane irritants. You'd know if you were being exposed to troublesome levels.
posted by flabdablet at 9:42 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Your girlfriend should move.
For the reasons KokuRyu referenced -- you have no control over the cleanup process or whether such a process even happens.
But more importantly, *your girlfriend is living in a building that as of two days ago had a meth lab in it.*
I'm sorry to say I have to disagree with oblio_one on this question. Meth labs don't happen in safe, suitable places to live.
I would advise her to calmly acknowledge that she is in an unsafe environment and make it a priority to seek another dwelling without delay.
posted by eeby at 9:51 PM on August 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
For the reasons KokuRyu referenced -- you have no control over the cleanup process or whether such a process even happens.
But more importantly, *your girlfriend is living in a building that as of two days ago had a meth lab in it.*
I'm sorry to say I have to disagree with oblio_one on this question. Meth labs don't happen in safe, suitable places to live.
I would advise her to calmly acknowledge that she is in an unsafe environment and make it a priority to seek another dwelling without delay.
posted by eeby at 9:51 PM on August 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
Best answer: If the local authorities say that the residence is safe, should we believe them?
No, you should not believe them. By "safe", they may well mean nothing better than "we have done the minimum that we are required by law to do before we can say that citizens are safe". which is a far cry from actual safety.
I agree with eeby. The place is contaminated; break the lease and move out. If the landlord threatens to sue, hire a lawyer and have the lawyer respond.
posted by thelonius at 10:42 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
No, you should not believe them. By "safe", they may well mean nothing better than "we have done the minimum that we are required by law to do before we can say that citizens are safe". which is a far cry from actual safety.
I agree with eeby. The place is contaminated; break the lease and move out. If the landlord threatens to sue, hire a lawyer and have the lawyer respond.
posted by thelonius at 10:42 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Meth labs don't happen in safe, suitable places to live.
related to (2) If it were me, I wouldn't move out until I found out a bit more about the lab; was this some kind of established set up that had been operating for a while? Or did neighbors smell something unusual and the cops busted people cooking over a weekend? Those are two pretty different situations, which would have different levels of (possible) toxic exposure for your girlfriend.
She could have a chat with the neighbors immediately above the flat in question and ask them a bit about what they observed; chemical smells? visitors at all hours?
posted by dubold at 2:56 AM on August 30, 2011
related to (2) If it were me, I wouldn't move out until I found out a bit more about the lab; was this some kind of established set up that had been operating for a while? Or did neighbors smell something unusual and the cops busted people cooking over a weekend? Those are two pretty different situations, which would have different levels of (possible) toxic exposure for your girlfriend.
She could have a chat with the neighbors immediately above the flat in question and ask them a bit about what they observed; chemical smells? visitors at all hours?
posted by dubold at 2:56 AM on August 30, 2011
Two sites that should be decent resources:
How to avoid buying a meth lab home. (I swear I found this on the blue...)
And: Meth Lab Homes
My point is this: there are signs. There are signs that will show up after time, and by then the exposure has occured. Was she directly exposed? minimally. Secondarily exposed? at a shared mailbox and entry, absolutely? Tertiarily exposed? Definitely.
Personally, (this is not advice), I would start with stating that I wanted to terminate the lease immediately and that I would expet my full security deposit back. This would be the opportunity for the lease to be terminated amicably between you and your landlord. THEN if the landlord resisted, I would put the lawyer to it. I might be out a couple hundred bucks for the lawyer, but I would definitely expect to get both my security deposit back and the lease broken if it came to that.
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:31 AM on August 30, 2011
How to avoid buying a meth lab home. (I swear I found this on the blue...)
And: Meth Lab Homes
My point is this: there are signs. There are signs that will show up after time, and by then the exposure has occured. Was she directly exposed? minimally. Secondarily exposed? at a shared mailbox and entry, absolutely? Tertiarily exposed? Definitely.
Personally, (this is not advice), I would start with stating that I wanted to terminate the lease immediately and that I would expet my full security deposit back. This would be the opportunity for the lease to be terminated amicably between you and your landlord. THEN if the landlord resisted, I would put the lawyer to it. I might be out a couple hundred bucks for the lawyer, but I would definitely expect to get both my security deposit back and the lease broken if it came to that.
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:31 AM on August 30, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by oblio_one at 8:57 PM on August 29, 2011 [2 favorites]