Special offer

Methamphetamine Contamination

By
Education & Training with InfraredClass.com

John McKenna

AMERICAN HOME INSPECTION

Over the past few decades, the illegal production of methamphetamine has reached epidemic proportions both in the United States and internationally. The manufacture of this drug has caused billions of dollars in damage to property, to the pharmaceutical industry, and most importantly has caused serious health effects to people through use and unseen contamination in homes.

Due to the seriousness of this problem, close to a dozen states have adopted regulatory clean up standards and many more will follow suit before the end of the decade. Some states have created guidelines for the public that outline clean up requirements, but much of the information has little scientific basis and does not offer a comprehensive approach to the problem.

Various processes and combinations of chemicals are used to manufacture (“cook”) meth. Each process produces gas or vapor at some point(s) during the cooking process. It is estimated that each pound of manufactured meth produces five to six pounds of hazardous waste that may be disposed of illegally in the environment. To make matters more challenging, many of these sites are in a residential setting meaning children and other occupants of the property may potentially be exposed to chemicals, harmful gases, hazardous materials and illegal drugs during and after the cooking process.

Clan labs must be cleaned up to protect current and future occupants. Active laboratories pose the greatest risk and must be safely neutralized and decommissioned before a permanent long-term solution to the potential health hazards associated with residual contamination may be contemplated. Under the current cleanup model employed in several states, clan labs are often decommissioned and cleaned up in two general phases. The first phase involves law enforcement and other qualified first responders. The second phase or long-term cleanup involves property owners and/or other interested parties in the property.

In the first phase, bulk chemicals are removed and the laboratory is decommissioned.  However, this activity should not be mistaken for the long-term cleanup of the property since the scope of work is generally limited to the abatement of illegal activity and any imminent threat to human health and the environment.

In response to this issue and the growing concern over the potential health effects associated with clan labs, eleven states have passed regulations with regard to decontamination standards.  In short, the second phase provides mechanisms for cleanup of contamination and certification by local health departments that a contaminated property has been cleaned up to established standards.

Property owners whose houses, apartments, motel rooms and even storage facilities were used for meth production face decontamination costs running into the thousands of dollars. On average, only one in three contaminated properties gets cleaned up. And cleanup usually happens solely because determined property owners do it voluntarily.

This article is educational material provided by the National Assoc. of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI)

http://www.nachi.org/methamphetaminecontamination.htm?PHPSESSID=536197eab6b64257dc9cd5b4f12397c8 

 

John B McKenna is a Certified Master Inspector serving the East Texas area. John has been licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and approved by TREC as an inspector trainer. He has more than 25 years experience in the construction industry and is certified by the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI). He continues to update his yearly education and testing requirements. Visit his company website at www.texas-inspection.com, or call his office at 1-888-818-4838 (Toll Free) for more information. 
 
Complete Home Inspection Service For Conroe, Lufkin, Bryan, Crockett, College Station, Livingston, Palestine, Nacogdoches, Athens, Jacksonville, Huntsville, Lake Palestine, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, Corsicana.

Comments (5)

Kelli Fronabarger
Bend River Realty Inc. - Bend, OR
Realtor - Bend Oregon

Hi John-

Having listed a lot that was previously a meth lab site, this article is right on the money. Another item of interest realting to this is that per the DEQ in Oregon "No one is allowed to set foot on the property until a certified clean-up has been completed" That means Realtors too. My seller had to put up $2000 to have the lot cleaned before I could even put a sign out. (He had traded the property with a private property and had NO idea)

Besides the obvious disclosures, at least in Oregon, the property will have to have a Cerificate of Fitness before any permits can or will be issued. Most counties have a list of manufacturing sites flagged at their offices.

Good post, very informative. Thanks : )

Apr 12, 2007 02:39 AM
John McKenna
InfraredClass.com - Dallas, TX
Very informative... thanks for the comments.
Apr 12, 2007 01:05 PM
Mary Ann Daniell Realtor
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors - Subsidiary of NRT LLC - Killeen, TX
Delivering Successful Results Since 1999

I had no idea what was involved in all this!  Thanks for posting.

 Mary Ann Daniell

Apr 14, 2007 11:51 AM
Dan Allred
Allred Realty - Thousand Oaks, CA
DRE#01761967
Good post and great information. It is good to get information like this!
Apr 14, 2007 12:35 PM
Anonymous
joyce skaggs

if there was a house that someone cooked meth in the past will it stay in the walls, floors,and will it cause in health issues

Apr 19, 2009 01:20 AM
#5