Author: Emma Kuhn
Kuhn, Emma, 2024 A public health perspective on the recovery and remediation of methamphetamine contaminated surfaces, Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering
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Methamphetamine is an illicit drug that is ingested, injected, or inhaled, and can be manufactured in clandestine laboratories. Vapours from the manufacture and smoking processes generate residues that are absorbed by porous and non-porous surfaces, such as walls, furniture and soft furnishings. Exposure to methamphetamine can cause adverse health effects in those residing within a contaminated property. The next step is to contact a testing and decontamination company to assess the level of contamination and remediate it.
The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the public health implications of methamphetamine contamination, engage with the external stakeholders that have the greatest influence, and explore some practices that are currently used by industry members.
Firstly, it was discovered that there was limited published literature on exposure to methamphetamine through thirdhand routes, and there was no unified name for it. The term Thirdhand Exposure to Methamphetamine (THEM) syndrome was proposed as a way to identify this exposure route in published documents to improve visibility for researchers, governments and clinicians.
The next step was to identify the practices used by members of the methamphetamine testing and remediation industry. Since there are no standardised methods, accredited courses, or legislation in Australia, the techniques or processes industry members follow was largely unknown. Businesses that advertised testing and remediation services were contacted and asked to participate in a survey and interview. The results highlighted that there is a high level of variation with the locations industry members test within a room, their cleaning techniques, as well as training and experience.
From the surveys and interviews with industry members, it was found that many participants used an immunoassay-type test to initially detect the presence of methamphetamine. These are fast and simple however it is important to know the accuracy and precision of these presumptive test kits. There were 72 tests assessed and while they advertise a detection limit of 0.5 μg per 100 cm2, many of them returned a positive result below this limit. This was an indication that industry members could be decontaminating properties unnecessarily if they were solely relying on these test kits.
Furthermore, the dispersion and spatial distribution of methamphetamine was evaluated for a property known to be contaminated and then after decontamination had been conducted. The findings from this case study further highlight the need for regulation to enforce consistent approached to assessment and decontamination.
Another aspect to methamphetamine contaminated properties is where members of the public seek advice. This chapter considered factors that impacted Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) to perform their regulatory duties during the peak period of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on contaminated properties. The prevalence of public enquiries to EHOs was also investigated through surveys and interviews which emphasised the need for EHOs to have access to evidence based information.
Each chapter of this thesis recommends the need for standardised methods for testing and cleaning methamphetamine contaminated houses. It has also been proposed the introduction of accredited courses and a regulatory body to oversee the whole industry is necessary to ensure a clear and consistent approach to managing these properties and protect public health.
Keywords: methamphetamine contamination, thirdhand, remediation, meth testing, THEM, Environmental Health Officers, third hand exposure, EHOs, drug manufacture, clandestine labs, illicit drugs, drug use.
Subject: Environmental Science thesis
Thesis type: Doctor of Philosophy
Completed: 2024
School: College of Science and Engineering
Supervisor: Professor Kirstin Ross