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 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 Contamination Process

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