Methamphetamine Contamination Remains in Homes for Years

Making a doll.
Methamphetamine contamination in houses is a public health problem around the world. (Image: Screenshot via YouTube)

The Breaking Bad movie El Camino‘s storyline focusing on drug production is more relevant than ever — with a new study revealing methamphetamine contamination in houses is a public health problem around the world.

Dr. Jackie Wright, Associate Professor Stewart Walker, and Dr. Kirstin Ross analyzed the contamination levels in everyday household items from a home suspected to have previously been used for cooking methamphetamine to determine whether surface wipe samples can adequately establish contamination levels and define health risks.

Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the Environmental Health experts explain that while sampling commonly focuses on the collection of surface wipes, it’s difficult to understand the risk to inhabitants because those samples don’t indicate contamination levels inside objects.

Methamphetamine contamination lasts for years

Dr. Ross said:

Levels of methamphetamine contamination were extremely high, even in articles brought into the house post-cooking, such as rugs.
Levels of contamination were extremely high, even in articles brought into the house post-cooking, such as rugs. (Image: Filipfoto25 via Dreamstime)

The results raise questions about whether current surface detection methods allow people living inside a former meth house to understand the extent of contamination, not only on surfaces but also within building materials and items they’re exposed to on a daily basis. Ross went on to say:

Man using hand to separate blinds so he can take a peek outside.
The most significant mass of methamphetamine was reported to be within the blinds. (Image: Vchalup via Dreamstime)

Provided by: Flinders University [Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.]

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