Clandestine drug laboratories continue to present a significant law enforcement and emergency response problem across the United States. These illegal labs contain the chemicals and equipment required to manufacture controlled substances such as methamphetamines (speed, crack, ice, glass and crystal), phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), LSD, PCP (angel dust), MDA/MDPP (Ecstasy), metha-qualude, methcathinone (cat), fentanyl and others. Methamphetamines are by far the most common illegal drugs manufactured in clandestine labs and will be the primary focus of this column. Illegal drug labs have been discovered in homes, apartments, hotel and motel rooms, barns, restaurants, fields, vacant and abandoned buildings, storage facilities and even mobile labs. This is a problem that concerns rural America as well as urban areas. In fact, the more remote the area, drug makers think, the less likely they will be detected by law enforcement. However, the very nature and dangers of clandestine drug labs may cause emergency responders to encounter them by accident or when something goes wrong with the chemicals involved.

Other public officials or civilians may also discover clandestine drug labs.pool grout cleaner Response personnel should become familiar with the detection clues and hazards of the hazardous materials involved in drug lab operations. pool sand filter insideThe chemicals used are themselves dangerous, and they can produce hazardous byproducts and cause fires and explosions. best pools in las vegas with slidesUse of the chemicals can often result in contamination of the area used for the drug lab, which becomes a secondary contamination hazard for response personnel. dry carpet cleaning allergyIllegal drugs can be made with “preferred” or “alternate” chemicals. pool liner cleaning tips

Some of these chemicals can make the operations more dangerous than others to the operators and the emergency responders.carpet cleaning services worcester Making illegal drugs does not require the sophistication, knowledge or equipment necessary to manufacture chemical and biological terrorist agents. Not all chemicals associated with illegal drug manufacture are regulated and many are available from local merchants such as pharmacies, hardware stores, supermarkets, discount and convenience stores, and agricultural cooperatives. Transactions that occur in these locations involving large purchases of suspected chemicals should be reported to law enforcement. Even better, retailers should be taught to limit the amounts of materials sold, making the drug lab operators work harder to obtain the raw materials needed for drug manufacture. Though not consistent in all locations, some chemicals which may be used in illegal drug manufacture are regulated by government agencies.

Manufacturers, distributors and retailers should be aware of precursor chemicals used for illegal drug production. Anhydrous ammonia is a common hazardous material used to make methamphetamines. It is often stolen from storage tanks on farms and commercial facilities, which may result in leaks and releases that require the response of emergency personnel. Frequently, the amounts of ammonia stolen are so small that they are not missed. Thieves then hide stolen ammonia in places where they are not expected to be found, such as the trunks of cars, inside vans, and in homes and apartments. Sometimes, thieves use portable propane tanks like those used for barbecue grills, which creates a hazard from ammonia attacking the fittings and valves that in turn may result in a release of the contents. The major problem with the theft of ammonia is that leaks often occur because valves are damaged or left open. Response personnel must know how to recognize the hazards involved in emergencies that may involve clandestine drug labs.

When a drug lab is suspected or discovered, it becomes a crime scene and law enforcement should be contacted immediately. Much like terrorist incident scenes, responders should take care to make sure the scene is safe (free of devices set up to injure response personnel) and take only those actions necessary to save lives and protect exposures. In addition to all of the other things they should be looking for at an emergency scene, responders should be aware of the potential clues that point to an illegal drug operation. Clues to watch for include blackened out windows, burn pits, stained soil, dead vegetation and multiple over-the-counter-drug containers. Tree kills have been found around locations of methamphetamine labs. Some 150-year-old Ponderosa Pines were killed close to a drug lab in Arizona. Residents never putting trash out, laboratory glassware being carried into a residence and little or no traffic during the day, but lots of traffic late at night, can also be clues to illegal drug operations.

Empty containers from antifreeze, white gas, starting fluids, Freon, lye or drain openers, paint thinner, acetone or alcohol may be clues, especially if they seem out of place for the occupancy. Additional clues are anhydrous ammonia or propane tanks, ceramic or glass containers or other kitchenware with hoses or duct tape, and thermos bottles or other cold storage containers. Also suspect are respiratory masks and filters, dust masks, rubber gloves, funnels, hosing and clamps. Unusual odors may also be present. When residential occupancies contain odors of ammonia, solvents, chemicals, sweet or bitter smells, all should be investigated to determine cause. Manufacturers of illegal drugs often set up booby traps for law enforcement and other responders. Following is a list of some of the more dangerous and in some cases common hazardous chemicals that may be found in conjunction with clandestine drug lab operations. While the presence of any one of the materials does not automatically indicate a drug operation, the type of location and numbers of chemicals present should be taken into account.

The list is not meant to be comprehensive or contain response operational information. It is provided as awareness information for emergency responders. Once chemicals are located at an incident scene, they should be researched using the same methods as other hazardous materials found at a hazmat incident. Methamphetamine manufacturing is accomplished in several ways, but one that is becoming popular is the use of anhydrous ammonia, sodium or lithium metal and the over-the-counter cold medications pseudoephedrine or ephedrine. Heat may be used, but is not required. Other materials required include coffee filters, solvents and other common items easily obtained. (This is also known as the “Nazi” method because the Germans used it during World War II, when German soldiers were given methamphetamines to allow them to keep going on a limited diet.) Anhydrous ammonia is heavily regulated and difficult to obtain for clandestine use, so drug makers often resort to theft from commercial facilities or farmers.

There is, however, another option: liberating anhydrous ammonia from the common garden fertilizers ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. Processing the fertilizer using sodium hydroxide and water liberates ammonia gas. Adding heat to the process speeds up the evolution of ammonia. The liberated ammonia gas is captured and condensed to be used for the methamphetamine manufacture. Making methamphetamines using this method is not without significant hazard. The uncontrolled release of the ammonia gas, which is flammable, into a closed system is hazardous. The risk of a water reaction with sodium or lithium metal creates an ignition source for the flammable ammonia and hydrogen gas liberated from the water. Ammonium nitrate, an oxidizer, coming in contact with organic fuels can be explosive. The cleanup of clandestine drug operations following an investigation by law enforcement personnel is not a function of emergency responders. Cleanup should be coordinated with the state department of the environment using recommended cleanup contractors.

Because some aspects of the cleanup may prove dangerous for contractors, emergency personnel may want to keep a crew on site in case of a fire or release requiring emergency actions. Personnel entering the contaminated area should only do so using appropriate chemical protective clothing for the hazard present. Contamination may extend beyond the location of the actual drug lab. Ventilation and plumbing systems within hotels, motels and apartment buildings may also be contaminated and require decontamination. When drug labs are discovered, they become miniature hazardous waste cleanup sites. It is estimated that as much as seven pounds of waste chemicals are produced for every pound of methamphetamine processed. Waste from drug labs is also sometimes dumped clandestinely on roadsides, vacant property, fields and wooded areas. Materials dumped to dispose of evidence can include propane containers, empty two-liter soda bottles, containers for other materials (such as starter fluid, brake fluid, brake cleaner, lighter fluid, rock salt, acetone or camping stove fuel), or miscellaneous glass and other containers.