Nature of Clandestine Laboratories and Health Risks

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

8. 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

9. 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

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

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

13. 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

14. Questions and Comments