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Clandestine Meth Labs
Ken Niswonger, Senior Chemist
Compliance Assistance and Technical Support Unit
Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
Colorado Department of Public Health And Environment
Meth Production in Colorado
• Growing problem
• Clandestine meth lab seizures in Colorado:
– 150 in 1999
– 264 in 2000
– 452 in 2001
What is Methamphetamine?
What is Methamphetamine?
• Powerful, addictive stimulant drug
• Illegally “cooked” in makeshift labs
• Pills, capsules, powder or chunks
• Smoked, snorted, injected, or eaten
• a.k.a. crank, speed, crystal or ice
• Euphoria, paranoia, anxiety, aggression
Most Common Methods of Clandestine
Production of Methamphetamine
Meth Production Epidemic
Related to Routes using
Pseudoephedrine
Prevalent Clandestine Production of
Methamphetamine
Prevalent Clandestine Production of
Methamphetamine
Nagai: HI and red P, Acid XI and Red
P, or XI and H2PO2
Birch: Li or Na metal + NH 3 (gas)
Rosenmund: H2 (gas) + Pd ,Ga etc
Emde: SOCl2 or PCl5 + LiAlH4
Prevalent Clandestine Production of
Methamphetamine
Nagai: HI and red P, Acid XI and Red
P, or XI and H2PO2
Birch: Li or Na metal + NH 3 (gas)
Prevalent Clandestine Production of
Methamphetamine
Red Phosphorus ,
Red, White, and Blue Method
“ HI “ Method
Ammonia Method
“Nazi”
Shake and Bake Method
What is the Concern ?
Active Meth Labs:
• Danger of fire and explosion
• Chemical spills
• Inhalation of solvents, corrosives,
toxic gases
• “Booby traps”
• Waste disposal
What is the Concern ?
Active Meth Labs:
What is the Concern ?
Active Meth Labs:
What is the Concern ?
Former Meth Labs:
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Vapors
Chemical residues
Methamphetamine residues
Waste Disposal
Equipment Used in Meth
Production
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Pyrex or Corning dishes
Plastic or rubber tubing
Rubber gloves
Glass containers (all types)
Funnels
Propane tanks
Coffee filters
Hot plates
How is Meth Produced?
• Basic Process:
– Solvent extraction of ephedrine
– Filter out and evaporate or cook off solvent
– “Cook” – Red Phosphorous or Nazi method
– Solvent extraction of meth base
– Separate solvent layer with meth
– “Salt out” meth using hydrogen chloride gas
Production Chemicals
Red P Method
Nazi
Ephedrine or pseudoephedrine (cold tablets)
HI, HCl, H2SO4,, H2PO2
Acetic and H3PO4
NaOH and NaCl
Red P and Iodine
Host of Solvents
Hydrogen peroxide
Anhy Ammonia
Li/Na metal
HCl, H2SO4
NaCl
Host of Solvents
By-products and Contaminants
• Iodine/iodinated compounds
• Phosphine gas (from overheating)
• Yellow or white phosphorous (from
overheating)
• Hydriodic acid gas
• Hydrogen chloride gas
• Phosphoric acid gas
• Meth residues
Warning Signs of Suspected
Meth Labs
• Strong or unusual odors: solvents,
ammonia, ether-like, vinegar-like,
pungent, acrid or sour
• Discoloration of structures, pavement or
soil
• Increased activity, especially at night
• Unusual security systems or other devices
Potential Areas of Contamination
• Primary Areas:
– Processing or “cooking” areas
– Disposal areas
– Storage areas
Potential Areas of Contamination
• Secondary Areas:
– Locations where contamination
has migrated
– Common areas in multiple
dwelling structures
– Common ventilation or plumbing
systems
Authority to Require Cleanup
• Currently no state statute that specifically
authorizes state or local authorities to require
cleanup
• Some local agencies have independent authority to
require cleanup
• House Bill 1115 would have created statewide
authority for local governments to require cleanup
• House Bill 1115 would have authorized the State
Board of Health to establish cleanup levels
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Cleanup of Meth Labs
• Developing guidance on cleanup procedures
and levels
– Structures:
• General cleanup
• Indoor air
– Outdoor storage and/or disposal areas:
• Soil
• Groundwater
• Surface water
Cleanup Levels for Structures
• CDPHE has health-based indoor air levels for
only a few of the meth lab contaminants
• CDPHE proposed cleanup level for meth of
0.5 ug/ft2
• Several other states have established cleanup
levels:
– Kansas –
• Compound-specific concentrations
• Derived from occupational exposure limits (OSHA,
NIOSH, ATSDR)
Disposal of Residual Meth Lab
Waste at the Landfill
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Demolition debris
Furniture
Carpeting
Drapes and shades
Clothing
Lab equipment-after bulk chemical removal
Disposal of bulk liquids and chemicals are
prohibited at a solid waste landfill
Who Should I Contact?
• Local law enforcement or drug task force
– Process crime scene
• Local HAZMAT team
– Proper handling and removal of chemicals and
equipment
• Local oversight agency (i.e., health department)
– Oversee cleanup of structures
• CDPHE - Hazardous Materials and Waste
Management Division
– Oversee cleanup of soil and water
Law Enforcement Resources
• Local law enforcement
– Local meth lab response
• Local drug task forces
– Multi-jurisdictional meth lab response
• Colorado Highway Patrol
– Response on Colorado highways
• DEA
– Response in areas not covered by local law enforcement or a
local task force
• Rocky Mountain HIDTA
– Established by the Office of National Drug Control Policy
– Facilitates cooperation and coordination between local, state,
and federal drug enforcement agencies