Methamphetamine manufacture is extremely dangerous due to the volatility of many of the ingredients used. Alone any one of these products can be dangerous, and together they create a potentially life threatening risk. Labs can explode without warning and exposure to the chemicals can cause a multitude of problems, including burns, respiratory damage, cough, skin irritation and a variety of behavioral problems.

There are a number of environmental hazards associated with the manufacture of meth, including:

• Flammable, explosive, and toxic chemicals
• Chemical reactions that are in progress can create a dangerous situation for anyone in the vicinity
• Unknown chemicals that may be accessible to people in the area
• Damaged or leaking chemical containers
• Confined spaces without proper ventilation creates respiratory risk for anyone in the area
• Booby traps that meth cooks set to keep people out - these can be deadly to anyone who enters the area

Every pound of meth manufactured produces approximately 5-6 pounds of hazardous waste

The amount of residue at a meth lab depends on:

• The size of the lab
• The length of time it operated
• The methods of chemical storage and disposal used
• The occurrence of chemical spills
• The physical characteristics of the structure in which the meth was made - a small bathroom with no windows vs. a barn with a wide open door

What's affected by meth residue?

• Porous, semi-permanent furnishings, such as carpeting and drapes
• Plumbing fixtures - sinks, bathtubs and toilets, if the meth is made in a bathroom
• Household appliances - refrigerators and stoves.  Meth residue can pass through the seals on these appliances
• Sewer or septic tanks if the residue is poured down a drain or flushed down a toilet
• Heating and ventilation systems
• Hard surfaces such as drywall, tile, wood flooring, and paneling
• Upholstered furniture

In short, just about everything that may be in a home, hotel room, or other dwelling where meth could be cooked is affected.

Signs of significant contamination:

• Stains
• Chemical residue and dust on counters, cupboards and floors
• Chemical odors
• Evidence of chemical spills or burns

There are many ways that humans or pets can be exposed to the residue of a methamphetamine lab -

• Through the accessibility of residue and the frequency of direct contact - the difference between a lab being in a home vs. a lab that's in an outbuilding.
• The ability of the residue to become airborne, which increases the risk that someone will inhale the toxic chemicals
• Residue in a ventilation system may be dispered throughout a building or residence
• The age, size and characteristics of the people living near a lab.  Babies and toddlers who crawl on contaminated carpet will have a higher frequency of skin contact with the toxic residue, which can irritate the skin and may be absorb.  The smaller the individual the more toxic the "dose" will be to their system (this includes pets too).  The more someone is in the area of a meth lab the greater their potential for exposure.