Most people have seen news reports on television showing law enforcement personnel breaking up a meth lab operation.  But have you noticed the officers are wearing masks, eye protecting glasses, gloves, long sleeved shirts and helmets in many cases?  That 's because meth, short for methamphetamine, creates toxins when it is cooked which can cause a number of serious health problems. 

As the number of meth houses grows, the inevitable began to happen.  Houses were raided, emptied, and then resold by the owners.  But it is becoming clearer every day that the toxins emitted by a meth lab linger for a very long time and can literally permeate a house.  New owners believe the house is in good condition and have no idea they are living in a virtual toxic waste dump.

When meth is cooked, it releases high levels of iodine and phosphine.  Hydrochloric acid and meth residue can cover the floors, walls, and countertops.  It permeates the carpet.  It seeps into the niches, cracks, corners, and seams that make up a house.  The new owners can't see this toxic waste, but it's there.  Often the first sign that something is not right is when unexplained illnesses begin to develop in family members and even pets.

There are a wide range of health problems which can result from prolonged exposure to meth lab toxins.  They include the following.

• Respiratory illnesses

Since this is a fairly new discovery, there are no federal guidelines at this point concerning the cleaning and rehabilitation of a property once used as a meth lab.  Right now unsuspecting homeowners purchase homes which contain the toxic residue and don't know what is causing the health problems.  Children are particularly susceptible to the toxins and develop aggressive behavior, respiratory illnesses and a host of other problems.

If you are interested in purchasing a new home, it is a good idea to check with the local law enforcement agency and inquire as to crimes committed in the past involving the property.  If you are living in a home and experiencing unexplained illnesses that did not appear until you moved into the house, it is a good idea to have a specialist check the environmental conditions inside the home.

In fact, cleaning a house that was once used as a meth lab should be done by an environmental professional experienced at handling toxic materials.  Many states are currently working on establishing standards for contamination removal and disposal.  Unfortunately you will probably have to remove all carpeting, repaint walls, have HVAC vents cleaned, have the septic tank emptied to eliminate toxic fumes, and repaint the entire house.²

But if you bought a meth house, these cleaning procedures are small prices to pay for protecting your health. 

Sources:

1. http://www.kdheks.gov/methlabs/ml_cleanup.html
2. http://www.co.pueblo.co.us/pcchd/environmental/hazmat.aspx?id=308