Salt Lake Valley Health Department
Quick Links | Report a ... | Contact Us | Events | Media | FAQ | Clinics
Sanitation and Safety
Chemically Contaminated Properties
Indoor Air Quality (non tobacco)
Chemically Contaminated Properties
(Meth Labs)
Methamphetamine Contaminated Properties Listing
Chemically Contaminated Properties Regulation #32
Certified Decontamination Specialist List
R311-500. Illegal Drug Operations Site Reporting and Decontamination Act
R392-600. Illegal Drug Operations Decontamination Standards
Purpose
The purpose of the Salt Lake Valley Health Department Chemically Contaminated Properties Program is to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare from hazardous or dangerous chemicals associated with chemically contaminated properties.
The Health Department has established standards, procedures, and responsibilities for the regulation of the occupancy and use of property where hazardous or dangerous chemicals
or chemical residues commonly associated with the manufacture of illegal drugs or other hazardous or dangerous chemicals are or may be present. This includes the regulation of the decontamination of such properties and the regulation of the disposal of hazardous or dangerous materials and contaminated debris removed from contaminated properties.
Situation
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the abuse of recreational drugs such as methamphetamine. This highly addictive substance has become a major problem in Salt Lake County. And as more and more people have become dependent on meth, there is a growing market for those who supply the drug.
Methamphetamine is easily produced by a number of methods using common household chemicals. In a single week, a good “cook” with the right amount of materials can produce thousands of “hits”.
Unfortunately, these people often produce the drug in homes, sheds, garages, trailers, and businesses, places where other people live, sleep, eat, and work. Because they almost never use basic safety and hygiene techniques in making the drug, these places are left contaminated with potentially dangerous levels of toxic chemicals.
An increasing number of properties are now being reported with residual meth contamination with no report of law enforcement activity. As a result, the property has to be decontaminated before people can be allowed to use it.
Health Impact
Many of the contaminants present during the cooking process of meth can be harmful if someone is exposed to them. These contaminants can cause health problems including respiratory (breathing) problems, skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness.
Acute (short-term) exposures to high concentrations of some of these chemicals, such as what law enforcement officers face when they first enter a lab, can cause severe health problems including lung damage and burns to different parts of the body.
The potential health effects depend on the specific chemicals to which a person is exposed, how much of each chemical to which a person is exposed, how long a person is exposed, and the health condition of the person being exposed.
Exposure to meth residues may cause symptoms similar to those experienced by meth users. Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may cause symptoms such as nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion and breathing difficulties. Benzene is a VOC known to cause cancer.
Acids or bases will cause a burning sensation on the skin and in mucous membranes, and can cause severe eye damage. Exposure to metals and salts can cause a wide range of health effects including respiratory irritation, decreased mental function, anemia, kidney damage and birth defects.
Health Regulation #32
In order to more effectively ensure that the public health is protected, the Salt Lake Valley Health Department has adopted Health Regulation #32, Chemically Contaminated Properties.
Provisions of this regulation include: (1) definitions, purpose, powers and duties, and scope; (2) responsibilities for the department, property owners, and contractors; (3) preliminary assessments, contamination levels, fitness for use, pre-decontamination site assessments, work plans, decontamination, post-decontamination site assessments, and final reports.
Contact the Salt Lake Valley Health Department - (801) 313-6641.