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Sanitarian's role in clandestine methamphetamine lab investigation

Brian C Hobbs, BS, RS, Environmental Health, Polk County Health Department, 100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 180, Balsam Lake, WI 54810, 715-485-8500, brianh@co.polk.wi.us

Methamphetamine production and use has become a growing concern in Polk County WI. With its close proximity to Minneapolis/St Paul and its rural agricultural anhydrous ammonia resources, Polk County has seen a large increase in clandestine methamphetamine labs. This has posed a challenge to the Environmental Health Sanitarian regarding waste disposal and site clean-up. A policy has been developed to deal with these potentially hazardous sites. An agreement with the Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE) was developed to include a site inspection at the time of initial search and seizure. This allows the Sanitarian to make on-site condemnations and/or compliance orders immediately to the property owners. A site investigation and follow-up procedure has been developed that may be of use to other agencies that are dealing with this type of hazardous lab clean-up. This procedure includes such items as identification of hazardous chemicals used in the process, agencies to notify, procedure for inspection, human health hazard concerns, exposure concerns to occupants and children, clean up methods, requirements for clearance testing including water and air quality, and documentation requirements. The focus of this session will be to share information with other rural agencies on environmental hazardous waste clean-up at lab sites.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Hazardous Waste

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Environmental Contaminants and Assessment of Exposure

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA