1 / 14

Nature of Clandestine Laboratories and Health Risks

Nature of Clandestine Laboratories and Health Risks. John Howell – Senior Scientist Environmental Health Directorate. Presentation Content. Illicit Drug Production Contamination Process Health Effects Environmental Effects Q & A. Production Process.

ciro
Download Presentation

Nature of Clandestine Laboratories and Health Risks

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Nature of Clandestine Laboratories and Health Risks John Howell – Senior Scientist Environmental Health Directorate

  2. Presentation Content • Illicit Drug Production • Contamination Process • Health Effects • Environmental Effects • Q & A

  3. Production Process • Can occur in many places around premises & elsewhere: • Kitchen, laundry, bathroom, common rooms, bedrooms • Garages, sheds, backyard • Bush blocks, vacant land, motel/hotels, vehicles • Useful to have water, electricity, sinks/drainage, ventilation, sealed working areas

  4. Contamination Process • Contamination arises from aerosol production, spillage & waste disposal • Spillage/waste is often obvious • Aerosol deposition especially meth is often inconspicuous & pervasive • Even only a few small Nazi/birch reactions may lead to surface contamination of well beyond immediate area • Meth contamination can continue for years

  5. Range of Chemical Hazards • Toxic gases produced that can cause death or injury (phosphine is the most deadly)‏ • Flammable chemicals used in process • Corrosive chemicals such as hydrochloric and sulfuric acid used for extraction • Chemicals may condense on surfaces • Unknown hazards from meth by-products

  6. The Nazi or Birch Reduction Method • Most common method in WA • Quick, inexpensive, simple & portable • Get everything from a hardware store • Utilises caustic soda, sulphate of ammonia, LPG, solvents, lithium metal • Generates anhydrous ammonia, hydrogen chloride gas, toxic reaction waste • 30 minute process

  7. Human Exposure • Mainly concerned about house occupants, or frequent visitors • Toddlers particularly vulnerable due to hand-mouth activity, ongoing presence & physiology • Also other children, pregnant women, & infirm • Exposure thru dust gas inhalation & inadvertent ingestion • Usually long term exposure the problem tho occasionally acute eg operator burns, deaths

  8. Short Term Effects • Increased alertness • Increased blood pressure, pulse and breathing rate • paranoia • intense high • hallucinations • violent behavior • loss of appetite • acne type sores • Convulsions • Enlarged pupils • Increased feeling of self confidence, well being • Sense of power / superiority Increased energy • Inability to sleep • Hyperactivity • Anxiety • Irritability • Panic attacks

  9. Long Term Effects • Fatal kidney & lung disorders • brain damage • depressions • hallucinations • violent & aggressive behavior • severe schizophrenia

  10. Other Human Hazards • Electricity • Fire/Explosions • Trip hazards • Needles • Structural • Animals • Operators

  11. Environmental Hazards • Can be in backyard, vacant land, bush areas • May be surface but leaching into soil, septics & groundwater possible • May affect environment or people directly tho usually a lesser concern than residential

  12. Questions and Comments

More Related