Environmental contamination from clandestine drug manufacture

Abstract

Drug abuse and drug seizures are on the rise across the United States. As drug prevalence increases, the public is more likely to come into contact with drugs, drug-contaminated locations, or sites of drug production. These exposures can lead to adverse health effects. To assess the severity of health effects stemming from sites of drug use and production, the compounds contaminating these locations need to be identified and quantitated. This research sought to assess the identity and amount of environmental contamination generated by sites of drug production. To accomplish this, wastewater, ambient air, and surfaces were all tested for contaminants generated by One Pot methamphetamine labs. Methods were also developed to examine contaminants generated by fentanyl and fentanyl analog synthesis and tablet formulation. With the amount of environmental contamination generated by One Pot methamphetamine labs better understood, more educated risk assessments can be developed regarding the safety and well-being of those living within or near former and current One Pot methamphetamine labs. Additionally, the development of methods to determine surface contamination within sites of fentanyl synthesis and tableting will assist in the development of effective decontamination procedures and will provide information regarding the level of hazards present within these sites.