Particle Size and Persistence of Methamphetamine Exposures 24 Hours After a Controlled Cook

Transcription

1 Particle Size and Persistence of Methamphetamine Exposures 24 Hours After a Controlled Cook Mike Van Dyke, CIH, CSP John Martyny, Ph.D., CIH Shawn Arbuckle Nicola Erb vandykem@njc.org (303)

2 Symptoms Among Responders

3 Do Responders Have Symptoms? University of Washington Studies 17% of law enforcement chemists report illness. Irritation symptoms occur in investigators that do not wear proper PPE. Most symptoms occur in the processing phase. Reported Cases Phosphine exposure in a law enforcement officer Skin and pulmonary irritation in law enforcement officers. Questionnaire Results 52% of officers attending training sessions reported symptoms at previous laboratory investigations.

4 What about kids?

5 Are there Children in Meth Labs? About 30-35% of labs seized are residences with children 35% - 55% of children removed from meth labs test positive for meth 10% of children removed from homes of heavy users test positive for meth

6 Higher Sensitivity in Children? Elevated sensitivity in children: Physiologic status (higher rates of growth, metabolism, respiration, and development) Behaviors (hand-to-mouth and increased contact with physical environment) Methamphetamine crosses the placenta Methamphetamine excreted in breast milk

7 Other Innocent Victims Inhabitants of residence formerly used as a meth lab Neighbors of a meth lab in attached housing

8 Meth Lab Responses Responded to suspected clandestine laboratories Hotel Rooms Homes Apartments Vehicles Mobile Homes

9 Laboratory Based Cook

10 Simulated Meth Smoke

11 Controlled Red P Cooks

12 Controlled Hypophosphorous Cooks

13 Controlled Anhydrous Ammonia Cooks

14 What happens after a cook?

15 Objectives 1. Assess airborne exposures during a controlled cook. 2. Assess surface contamination levels resulting from two controlled cooks 3. Assess residual airborne and surface contamination levels up to 24 hours after a controlled cook 4. Determine the particle size and/or physical state of airborne methamphetamine

16 Study Design Day One Two controlled methamphetamine cooks Red P method 3 g each Sampling time = approximately 4 hours Day Two No Activity Medium Activity Heavy Activity Each sampling time = 2 hours

17 Medium Activity

18 Heavy Activity

19 Day One Samples Pre Cook One Cook One Post Cook One Cook Two Post Cook Two Hydrogen Cloride C, R C, R Iodine C, R C, R VOCs C C, R C, R Surface Meth All All All Vacuum Meth Samples All Total Airborne Meth C, R C, R Resp. Airborne Meth C, R C, R Size Selective Meth C, R C, R *C=Cook Area, R=Remote Area

20 Day Two Samples No Activity Medium Activity Heavy Activity Hydrogen Cloride C C C Iodine C C C VOCs C C C Surface Meth All All All Vacuum Meth Samples All Total Airborne Meth C C C Resp. Airborne Meth C C C Size Selective Meth C C C *C=Cook Area, R=Remote Area

21 Methamphetamine Methods Air Samples Acid treated glass fiber filters Analyzed by GC/MS Total 37-mm CFC, 2 lpm Respirable aluminum cyclone (2.5 lpm) Particle size selective Sioutas impactor Stage A 2.5 to 10 µm Stage B 1.0 to 2.5 µm Stage C, D, and BF - < 1.0 µm

22 Methamphetamine Methods Surface Samples 4 x 4 sterile gauze pads 100 cm 2 templates Reagent grade methanol Analyzed by GC/MS Vacuum samples Eureka Mighty-Mite vacuum Mitest dust collector 1 m 2 area Not validated method Analyzed by GC/MS

23 Other Chemical Methods Iodine NIOSH 6005 Hydrogen chloride NIOSH 7903 VOCs EPA TO-17

24 House Layout and Sample Locations Couch Living Room CarpetL1 CarpetB1 Bedroom CarpetB2 CarpetL2 Closet area with walk through door Cook Area Sample Cook Area Area sample (Day 2) Area sample # 2 Remote Area Sample CarpetD1 Den CarpetD2 CarpetK1 CarpetK2 Kitchen Area sample (Day 2) only) Bathroom

25 Cook Area Samples

26 Remote Sampling Location

27 Day Two Cook Area

28 Surface and Vacuum Samples

29 Iodine and Hydrogen Chloride Cook Area Remote Area No Activity Medium Activity Heavy Activity TLV RfC (CDPHE/EPA) Iodine (ppm) (c) Hydrogen Chloride (ppm) ND (c) 0.06

30 Surface Meth Concentrations Methamphetamine (ug/100 cm2) 70 Pre-Cook Post-Cook 1 60 Post-Cook 2 13 Hours Post Hours Post 18 Hours Post Cook Area Kitchen Den Bedroom Living Room Location

31 Carpet Contamination Methamphetamine (ug/100 cm2) 2.00 Pre-Cook 13 Hours Post Kitchen Den Bedroom Living Room Location

32 Airborne Meth Concentrations 800 Methamphetamine (µg/m 3 ) Day One Day Two Total Meth Respirable Meth PSS um PSS um PSS < 1 um Cook Area Remote Area No Activity Medium Activity Heavy Activity Sample Location/Time

33 Day Two: Personal Contamination 30 Methamphetamine (ug/100 cm2) Arm Foot Neck Location Low Activity Medium Activity Heavy Activity *Medium Activity Hands = 42 ug/100 cm 2

34 Dose Estimates vs. Exposure Basis for Dose Infant exposed to 0.5 µg/100 cm 2 RfD Neurotoxic Endpoint 5 mg oral dose to 70 kg Adult Illicit usage mg for Adult Infant Dermal 35 µg/100 cm 2 Infant Inhalation 170 µg/100 m 3 Calc. Dose (mg/kg-day)

35 Exposure Conclusions During a Cook Exposures to iodine and hydrogen chloride may exceed occupational standards, specifically ceiling levels Significant amounts of airborne methamphetamine are released during cooking and deposited on both horizontal and vertical surfaces Entering the cook area will contaminate clothing with methamphetamine and other chemicals Methamphetamine contamination can be found at high levels throughout the structure Majority of the exposure is to fumes < 1 um or methamphetamine vapor

36 Exposure: 24 Hours Post-Cook Exposures to iodine and hydrogen chloride remain elevated with respect to EPA/CDPHE RfC Entering the cook area will contaminate clothing with methamphetamine and possibly other chemicals Methamphetamine contamination remains at high levels throughout the structure Higher activity levels in the structure appear to increase meth exposure levels Majority of the exposure is to particles < 1 um or methamphetamine vapor

37 Limitations Single house Only two cooks Limited number of samples

38 Future Directions Longer term studies Evaluate different sampling methods Epidemiological study on health effects to children and law enforcement personnel Effectiveness of different decontamination methods for personnel and property

39 Multi-Agency Cooperation North Metro Drug Task Force National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Tri-County Health Department High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Colorado Department of Public Safety U.S. Department of Justice Colorado Alliance for Drug Endangered Children

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