meth clean up: How Not to Clean Up a Meth Lab

So you’re stuck with a Meth Lab. A majority of calls that come in about meth lab testing and clean up are from one of two people. A landlord whose tenant decided to turn the unit into a meth lab or a homeowner who either just learned that their home was previously a meth lab or who is looking to purchase a home that was used as a meth lab. Here are few important Do’s and Don’t’s to get you started:

First of all, Don’t even think about cleaning this up yourself! A meth lab is more dangerous than any legal lab or chemical manufacturing plant. Meth labs have been characterized as an “explosion waiting to happen.” In fact, 25%-30% of all labs discovered in the United States. are found as a result of fire or explosion.

The chemicals used to cook meth and the toxic compounds and byproducts resulting from its fabrication produce poisonous vapors, fumes, and spills. Exposure to even just low levels of some meth ingredients may give rise to eye and tissue irritation, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and fatigue; exposure to high levels can bring on coughiung, shortness of breath, lack of coordination, chest pain, chemical burns (to the skin, eyes, mouth, and nose), and death. Corrosive substances can cause injury through inhalation or contact with the skin. Solvents can irritate the mucous membranes, skin, and respiratory tract and affect the central nervous system. Extended exposure to the chemicals commonly used in meth production may cause cancer; damage the brain, kidney, spleen, liver, and immunologic system; and result in birth defects. Scared? Good!

Are there companies out there claiming to be able to clean up meth labs quickly, cheaply and even without testing? Certainly but, remember, you get what you pay for and this is serious business. There are no quick fixes to cleaning up a meth lab. There are many types of contaminants (toxins) utilized in cooking meth and they are used at different levels. Without proper pre-decontamination testing, it’s impossible to determine what type of remediation needs to be performed. If a contractor is assuring you that they can neutralize meth with a magic chemical that they use, be cautious. There are very few chemicals that can neutralize the meth molecule and those that can are very hazardous if not handled properly. Additionally, those very same neutralizing chemicals may be so corrosive that they do additional irreversible damage to your property.

The BEST meth lab remediation companies do NOT neutralize the meth on your property. They REMOVE it completely and use methods that are environmentally friendly.

Some other things that DON’T WORK, even if your state guidelines suggest it. Remember, this is your property, your legal liability, and your health.

Painting, or encapsulating. It DOESN’T WORK! The meth residue is still there and it will make it s way to the surface. This has been evidenced time and time again by testing homes that were busted meth labs years prior, interior painted multiple times, and STILL very high levels of meth throughout the home. DON T PAINT. If you do, the paint will have to be stripped as an additional step to remediation.

Scrubbing with household cleansers and detergent. DOESN’T WORK and could make the situation worse. In fact, you may just wind up shifting the meth residue around to areas that it wasn t in elevated levels prior. You also run the risk of a chemical reaction between whatever you’re rubbing on the wall and the elements used to cook the meth. VERY DANGEROUS!

Heating up ( baking ) is suggested in a few states guidelines. DON’T! If you have a central heating and/or AC system, it s likely already contaminated and a majority of the time these systems have levels of meth in them up to 25x greater than the rest of the structure. Turning up that system will just raise the contamination in the whole structure and a home that was highly toxic can quickly become just plain lethal!

This is serious business and it s critical that you bring in someone that’s qualified to address this for you. Half measures and band aids are not going to bring you peace of mind, safety and the ever important legally defensible documentation that you have a professionally remediated structure that is clean and fit to be occupied. Take the time to find a licensed, professional meth lab clean up company that will help you take back what’s yours!

Tear Gas Odor Treatment, Blood Contamination Cleaning, Dallas, TX 75043.wmv – Our decontamination technicians are compliant with the Engineering, Work Practice, and Administrative Controls required to perform infection control. We are in compliance with Engineering Controls such as Personal Protective Equipment (OSHA 1910.132), Bloodborne Pathogens (OSHA 1910.1030), and Respiratory Protection (OSHA 1910.134). In addition to the Engineering Controls, our decontamination technicians are experts in Work Practice Controls such as Confined Space (OSHA 1910.146) and Hazard Communication (OSHA 1910.1200). We adhere to Administrative Controls, such as scheduling due to safety concerns, on a project-to-project basis. Crime Statistics: 1.) Dallas — Dallas had a population of 1306775 in 2010 which makes Dallas the second largest city in Texas with just about 254 neighborhoods. In 2009 property crime incidents were at 71364 and fell to 64125 in 2010. The decline in property crime rates of 10% was followed by robbery, violent crimes, and Larceny theft. There was a slight increase in burglary incidents 19428 in 2009 and inflated to 19594 in 2010. Overall Dallas’ crime rate is down 10.2% from 2009, also 2010 was the 7th consecutive year of overall crime reduction, and was the 9th consecutive year of violent crime reduction. We provide services to the greater Dallas area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. For more information: www.homicide-clean-up.com www.medical-waste-pick-up.org www.meth-decon.com www.human-decomposition-clean-up.com www …

Suspected meth lab discovered

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According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website, “…the cost of cleaning up methamphetamine labs has dropped dramatically, due to improved technology and support from the DEA. DEA estimates that the average direct cost to clean up a lab …
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