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Environmental Effects
The production of methamphetamine may create serious environmental hazards, indoors and out.
Various meth recipes include combinations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), corrosives, metals, solvents and salts. Some of these chemicals include acetone, starting fluid, Freon, hexane (Coleman fuel), methanol, toluene, white gas, xylene, anhydrous ammonia, hydriodicacid (iodine), hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid), phosphine, sodium hydroxide (lye), sulfuric acid (drain cleaner), iodine, lithium metal, red phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, and sodium metal.
Making meth with these chemicals can result in explosions, chemical fires and the release of toxic gases. Meth cooking also produces solid and liquid wastes that can contaminate a building and its contents. The dumping of those wastes on the ground, down drains, or down sewers can cause contamination of soil, ground water, lakes and rivers.
Meth labs in Minnesota have mostly been small, "mom and pop" labs making one ounce of meth at a time. Though the process and chemicals are dangerous, small labs do not create the same potential for harm to soil and drinking water that is seen with the "Super Labs" of the South and Southwestern United States.
At this time, the most serious concerns about meth lab contamination in Minnesota are about human exposures to lab chemicals in homes and other structures or vehicles where people spend a lot of time. Recent research from the National Jewish Research Center in Denver tells us that even small labs leave behind chemical residues that may be harmful to health.
Road Cleanup: Encountering Meth Waste
Meth waste or other hazardous waste can be harmful to the health of people who find and disturb them. Highway clean-up groups should be informed, before they participate in clean-ups, about common meth lab discards.
Note that waste from a meth lab may be completely harmless, potentially harmful (when disturbed), extremely dangerous or hard to assess. Staff or citizens may come upon:
- Weapons or explosives
- Empty paper packaging
- Leaky anhydrous containers
- Broken glass or dirty syringes
- Chemically saturated coffee filters
- Common but toxic household products
- Mixtures and mislabeled containers
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Highway clean-up volunteers and others should be instructed to be very cautious, if any waste found by the roadside appears suspicious or potentially dangerous. Note that a common meth lab injury occurs when closed containers of anhydrous ammonia are opened out of curiosity or habit. When a suspicious package, bag or assortment of trash is found, careful handling means NO HANDLING or MOVEMENT.
Anyone finding a meth lab or dumpsite or other hazardous waste should dial 911.
Roadway Cleanup Resources
Minnesota Department of Health Roadway Cleanup Handout (PDF)Minnesota Department of Transportation Guide to Hazardous Materials (PDF)
A safety alert about meth lab waste along roadways.
Information provided by the Minnesota Department of Health.
