For every pound of finished product of methamphetamine, 5 to 6 pounds of waste was left behind.
The majority of domestic methamphetamine is produced in "Mom-and-Pop" cook laboratories in home kitchens, workshops, recreational vehicles and rural cabins.
Small children especially have a greater risk as children may put contaminated objects into their mouths and their constant skin-to-surface contact while crawling on carpets or floors where the residue may have settled.
Many People Live in Former Meth Labs and Don’t Know It. When the occupants of a residence have been using the dwelling as a meth lab, the carpet and walls are likely to be deeply contaminated by chemical spills and the release of toxic vapors. Unfortunately, this effectively renders the affected rooms unfit for human habitation, and without a thorough and costly process of cleaning, the environment can be highly hazardous to anyone living there. In many cases, landlords and realtors will have no knowledge of the fact that the property is a former meth lab.
Exposure to meth residues may cause symptoms similar to those experienced by meth users. Exposure to VOCs may cause symptoms such as nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion and breathing difficulties. Some VOCs may cause cancer.
