Public Safety Hazard
Meth labs are increasingly becoming a public safety
hazard. Even months after a lab has been closed, chemical residue that
has seeped into the carpet or wood can be dangerous. Police and Firefighters
must be specially trained to handle methamphetamine laboratory situations
because of the likelihood of explosions, invisible poison gases and
other dangers. People who come into contact with the highly toxic chemicals
used to make the drug can become sick and prolonged exposure can lead
to cancer and death.
- One key ingredient, hydriodic acid, can dissolve flesh in seconds
and has fumes so toxic small amounts can collapse the lungs.
- The heating
of red phosphorus creates phosphene gas, which is so deadly that one
sniff kills.
- Meth makers also use solvents like ether, chloroform and
freon. A gallon of ether has the same explosive properties as five
sticks of dynamite.
- Lab mistakes can be catastrophic. Two men died in
a California lab after they dropped a cask of cooking meth, releasing
phosphene gas. One victim had stuffed dirt in his mouth in a futile
effort to ease the burning.
The majority of methamphetamine labs located in New Mexico are of
the smaller type where the "cooks" are using mason jars or
sometimes pyrex dishes. These labs are extremely dangerous for several
reasons:
- The operators are dealing with explosive chemicals and are not trained
in chemistry.
- These lab operators are not using the proper type of glassware
that would prevent explosion or exposure to deadly gases released from
the "cook."
These operators are commonly users of "crank" and are under
the influence while operating the lab.
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