Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 1)

Meth can be manufactured anywhere, including in a "cook's" home. This may be a property you own and are leasing to the "cook", or a house that you are considering purchasing. These home labs leave contamination and severe health risks even after the drug is no longer being manufactured in the residence.

A methamphetamine laboratory is typically not a large, permanent facility. It can even be manufactured in a coffee pot. The ingredients are common and generally easy to come by. In fact, meth can be made in makeshift labs small enough to be stored in a suitcase and set up anywhere. These labs have been discovered in the country, in small towns and in the largest cities, in homes, garages, apartments and motels.

Being in or near a Meth lab is extremely dangerous. The toxic nature of the ingredients leaves behind hazardous waste - six pounds of residue are generated by each pound of Meth manufactured. Clean up of a meth lab can run as high as $10,000.

The toxic effects of exposure to Meth lab chemicals depends on three factors: the lab process and chemicals used, the amount of chemicals and length of exposure, and the age and health of the person exposed. Chemicals may enter the body by being breathed, eaten or absorbed through the skin. Short term effects of exposure to the lab chemicals or byproducts include shortness of breath, a cough, chest pains, dizziness, skin lesions and/or burns to the skin, eyes, nose and mouth. Over the long term, the health risks of even low level exposure include brain, liver and kidney damage, cancer, birth defects and death.

Meth Manufacturing Contaminates Indoors and Out

Outdoors, Meth lab contamination results from manufacturing or the dumping or burning of waste on or near soil, surface water, groundwater, sewer or septic systems.

Contamination caused by the "cooking" and disposing of Meth inside a home will affect: floors, walls, ceilings, working surfaces, furniture, carpeting, paneling, wallpaper, draperies, blinds, light fixtures, kitchen appliances, plumbing fixtures and drains, vent fans, ceiling fans, heating and air-conditioning vents, clothing, toys, etc.

Missouri statutes require that the present or past existence of meth labs on any property sold, leased or transferred must be disclosed.

 Applies if meth is or was produced on any part of the property, inside or out.

Applies to the sale, rental, exchange, lease, or any other transfer of real property.

Applies whether the property had a structure on it or not - improved or unimproved property.

Requires that the owner, seller, landlord or other transferor make the disclosure.

Applies if the owner, seller, landlord or other transferor has or had knowledge of the prior methamphetamine production.

Disclosure is required regardless of whether the persons involved in the production of the methamphetamine were convicted for production.

In my next blog, we will discuss common ingredients used in the production of meth.

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 2) Common Ingredients

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 3) Recognizing a Lab

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 4) Cleaning Up