Transcript Document

Our Services
 Methamphetamine Testing & Remediation
 Crime/Trauma Scene Remediation
 Blood Spills
 Hoarding
 Toxic Chemical Spills
 Mold Remediation
 Asbestos Removal
www.bio-absolute.com
Bio-Absolute
 I, Amie Dulay-York, attest that I am certified by Amdecon in: Personal
Protective Equipment Training in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.132;
Awareness Level Fall Protection Training in accordance with 29 CFR
1910.66 Appendix C; Awareness-Level Permit-Required Confined
Spaces Training in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.146; Awareness-Level
Lock-Out/Tag Out Training in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.147; Crime
& Trauma Scene Decontamination in accordance with 29 CFR Part
1910 IICRC Event # 2125; Bloodborne Pathogen Training in accordance
with 29 CFR 1910.1030; Respiratory Protection Training in accordance
with 29 CFR 1910.134; Meth Lab Decontamination IICRC event # 2748;
HAZWOPER 40.
 78 hours of Annual Education, 9 certifications, 4 IICRC CEC’s
Health Departments & Code Enforcement
 Local Health Departments guards multiple fronts to
defend the people from any health threat, regardless
of the source, and works tirelessly to prevent disease
outbreaks. LHD makes sure the tap water we drink,
the restaurant food we eat and the air we breathe are
all safe.
Health Departments & Code Enforcement
 Code Enforcement: To meet existing and emerging
health, safety and welfare needs of residents and
businesses by evaluating existing standards and
procedures and effectively administering property
maintenance compliance, infrastructure
construction and repairs, historic preservation and
public safety services.
What is Methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine is one of the
most addictive drugs in history.
 Known as "speed," "meth," and "chalk." In smoked form, referred to as
"ice," "crystal," "crank," and "glass.“
 The coloration of meth may vary significantly due to the manufacturing
process and as a result, it may have a foul rancid odor. Possible colors
include: colorless/white, red, orange, purple, green, and brown.
 Meth’s high lasts anywhere from 8 to 24 hours, and 50 percent of the
drug is removed from the body in 12 hours.
 Meth is a cousin of stimulants routinely prescribed to children who
have ADHD. Amphetamines such as Adderall and Ritalin have similar
effects as meth, and the body actually metabolizes meth into
amphetamine.
METH
Meth is commonly manufactured in illegal, hidden laboratories, mixing
various forms of amphetamine (another stimulant drug) or derivatives
with other chemicals to boost its potency. The meth “cook” extracts
ingredients from those pills and to increase its strength combines the
substance with chemicals such as battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel
and antifreeze.
 These dangerous chemicals are potentially explosive and because the
meth cooks are drug users themselves and disoriented, they are often
severely burned and disfigured or killed when their preparations
explode. Such accidents endanger others in nearby homes or buildings.
 The illegal laboratories create a lot of toxic waste as well— For every
pound of finished product, 5 or 6 pounds of chemical waste is
left at the illicit lab site. People exposed to this waste material can
become poisoned and sick.
What Can be Used to Make Meth
Quiz: Which of these is not a common ingredient in Meth?
a) Nail Polish Remover
b) Lithium
c) Nitroglycerine
d) Drain Cleaner
e) Brake Fluid
Answer to the Quiz!
 Nitroglycerine

Nitroglycerine is used to make explosives. Although explosions can
happen while methamphetamine is being made, nitroglycerine is
not involved. All of the other ingredients are commonly found in
Meth.
Let’s talk about Ingredients
CHEF METH MAKER
 LETS TRY TO MAKE METH!
Statistics in Missouri for Meth Labs
Source: MO Highway Patrol
Through September 2014: GUESS???!!?!?!?
2013: 1,496 Drug Labs
2012: 2,006 Drug Labs
Types of Methamphetamines
 THREE TYPES OF METH
Levo-meth - raises the blood pressure and causes the heart to beat
rapidly, but does not increase alertness very much. Shakes/tremors
and stomach cramps are common physical side-effects.
 Dextro-levo meth is made with the P2P method. It was popular
during the 1960s, but it is still made and distributed. It has to be
injected to get the desired rush and produces side effects such as
shakes, tremors, and stomach cramps.
 Dextro-meth is currently the most common. It is made by the
ephedrine reduction process. It is 2 to 10 times as physiologically
active as L-meth. It increases the heart rate, blood pressure, body
temperature, and rate of breathing and dilates the pupils, and has
fewer adverse side effects than the other two types of meth.
Forms of Meth
 Ice (crystal) - It can be found in the form of
translucent to white shards as well as powder;
typically smoked.
 Powder -It tends to be less coarse, so it is often
snorted, but it can also be swallowed, injected (after
being dissolved), or smoked.
Forms of Meth (cont’d)
 Liquid - Meth is often dissolved in water for the purposes of
transportation. It tends to be placed in familiar containers (e.g.,
liquor bottles) which are commonplace at points of inspection
(e.g., ports of entry). Once shipped to its destination, the water is
boiled away, leaving the drug in solid form.
 Base/Gooey - sometimes distributed in an oily, waxy, gooey
form. Information on this form is limited. Some have suggested
that it results from an incomplete cooking process. This form
can be difficult to dissolve since it is not soluble is water, and it
can be difficult to snort
Forms of Meth (cont’d)
 Tablets/Pills - referred to as “Yaba” (which means “crazy
medicine” in Thai) are typically produced in Southeast and
East Asia. They are usually no larger than a pencil eraser,
and are brightly colored, including reddish-orange or
green. The tablets sometimes have a logo; for example, R
or WY. In the United States, these tablets tend to be used
by Asian communities, though they are also sometimes
available at raves and techno-parties. Ecstasy tablets
imported into the United States from Canada sometimes
contain methamphetamine as well
$Show Me The Money$
Term
Amount
Going Rate
Quarter
1/4 gram
(0.01 ounce)
$20 - $40
Half
1/2 gram
( 0.02 ounce)
$40 - $80
Teenager
1/16 ounce
(1.8 grams)
$120 -
8-Ball
1/8 ounce
(3.5 grams)
$250 -
Ounce
1.00
ounce
$1200 -
THE ABUSER
 Meth head (regular user), Meth monster (one who has a
violent reaction to methamphetamine), or Speed freak
(habitual user of methamphetamine).
 User may exhibit anxiousness; nervousness; incessant
talking; extreme moodiness and irritability;
purposelessness; repetitious behavior such as picking at
skin or pulling out hair; sleep disturbances; false sense of
confidence and power; aggressive or violent behavior;
disinterest in previously enjoyed activities; and severe
depression.
The Abuser (cont’d)
 The chronic user of powdered methamphetamine
is often undernourished with a gaunt appearance,
poor hygiene, and bad teeth.
Health Risks Associated With Meth
SHORT TERM
LONG TERM
Extreme weight Loss
Disturbed Sleep Patterns
Hyperactivity
Nausea
Hallucinations
Paranoia
Convulsions
Lung Burn
Severe Headaches
Respiratory/Breathing Problems
Eye and Skin Irritations
Increase Heart Rate
Heart Attack
Increased Blood Pressure
Damaged Blood Vessels
Brain Damage
Stroke
Cardiovascular Disease
Liver Damage
Kidney Damage
Lung Damage
Blisters/Skin Burns
Dizziness
**Otherwise known as a Cialis Commercial
Additional Health Hazards of Meth
 Environmental - cooks may dispose of the used meth gear away
from the lab. This results in a “meth dump”, which can be a roadside
ditch, a wooded area or remote public places. The trash may look
innocent enough – soda bottles, household cleaning bottles and small
lengths of plastic hose used in the cooking process. Do not touch any of
these items as they can cause skin irritation, blindness, and other
adverse health effects from the chemical residue.
 Residential – MO is 1 of the 14 states that require property owners
to disclose former drug production to potential buyers or tenants.
 The cooking process releases a cloud of toxic chemicals, including
hydrochloric acid, phosphorous, iodine and methamphetamine
itself, that seeps into floors and walls and can cause long-term
health problems
Cleaning Up the Illegal Meth Lab
(Lab is discovered by law enforcement personnel,
Inspector orders vacate/condemns
What’s next?)
BEFORE Law Enforcement or Fire Department personnel enter a home, they SHOULD:
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Apply a face mask – N95 – most used and inexpensive
Apply PPE Suit
Apply Shoe covers
Apply Gloves
Apply eyewear
Applying PPE is called Dawning
Upon inspecting the home, if you touch anything in the home, DO NOT touch any part of
your exposed skin
Properly discard PPE (most of the time, NARC unit will have BIO-Hazard bags,
containers, etc., to utilize. Use buddy system when de-gowning and de-gown from inside
out-Gloves being the last thing to remove. Taking off your PPE is called Doffing.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
SO WHY DO WE REMEDIATE?
 VOCs are emitted as gases from certain solids or
liquids; emitted by a wide array of chemicals found
in meth labs
 Benzene and toluene are two VOCS that are often
found in contaminated meth lab homes.
VOC’s & Health
First Things First:
 Property should immediately be aired out
 The home should be condemned, or an “Order To Vacate” issued. (It is now a matter of
public safety and the premises is considered a bio-hazardous threat).
 Once the owner has been contacted, a list of requirements should be established:
Get the Home Tested, Remediate the Home, Post-Test,
Obtain certified affidavit of remediation
 Make sure Electric is shut off. (It is now an extremely volatile environment). You do not
want the HVAC or Gas on.
NEVER ALLOW THE HOME OWNER OR TENANTS TO TAKE ANYTHING, INCLUDING
THEIR CLOTHES OR PERSONAL EFFECTS OUT OF THE HOME. ONCE AN ITEM IS
REMOVED AND TAKEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION, THAT AREA IS NOW CONSIDERED
CONTAMINATED AS WELL.
NIOSH Guidelines Sampling
 100cm2 template in each room of the
structure using an authoritative approach;
wipe sample with EPA approved solvent
 If a structure has a sprayed-on, “popcorn”
ceiling, it should be sampled
Sampling under NIOSH
• Solvent typically used for testing is Methanol alcohol, but other approved
solvents are isopropanol, Methylene Chloride, & Acetonitrile.
• The wipes are prepared on-site, opening one sample container at a
time. With gloves on (nitril or latex)
• Remove dry wipe sample from container and wet with 3-4 ml of solvent,
apply no more solvent than needed to moisten approximately the central
80% of the area of the gauze wipe. Too much solvent can cause sample loss
due to dripping from the wipe, squeezing out and discarding any excess
solvent from the gauze wipe.
• Place the 100cm2 template over the area to be sampled (tape along outside
edge of template).
• Method to sample consists of firm pressure using vertical S-strokes, folding
the exposed side of the pad in and wiping the area with horizontal S-strokes,
folding the pad once more and wiping the area again with vertical Sstrokes. Place the sample in the shipping container and seal. We use an
Integrity seal along with a label to show the lab that the sample has not been
compromised. Use a new pair of gloves each sample.
CONTAMINATION
If a property is contaminated, all absorbent or “Soft Good” items must be removed. They
accumulate vapors that are disbursed through the air during the cooking process and collect dust
and powder from the chemicals involved in the manufacturing process.
Soft goods include some of the following:
Curtains
Carpeting
Ceiling Tiles
Bedding
Clothing
Food
Surfaces that are porous hold contamination from the Meth. These items must be cleaned with a
decontamination solution and in some cases, encapsulated. Some of these items include:
Walls
Counters
Floors
Appliances
Ceilings
Cabinets
Woodwork
In some cases, complete HVAC units to include the ductwork needs to be removed.
Waste products are dumped down sinks, drains, and toilets. The waste collects in traps, septic
systems, and drains. The plumbing must be decontaminated.
Hoarding /Animal Hoarding
Hoarding
 “Excessive Storage”
 Hoarding is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting
with possessions, regardless of their actual value. The
behavior usually has deleterious effects—emotional,
physical, social, financial, and even legal—for a hoarder
and family members.
 Property is condemned, ordered for remediation, reinspected for structural issues
 Municipal services involved: Fire, Police, Health Dept.,
Code Enforcement, Social Services
 Changing from a “personal to public problem” – Right of
the Community – Public Health Nuisance
Risks Associated with Hoarding
 Increased Health Risks & Spread of Diseases
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Unsanitary conditions resulting in Molds, Bacteria, Fecal Matter,
Dust & Dirt (exacerbating asthma & other pulmonary conditions,
allergic reactions, headaches)
Mice, Rat, Bug Infestation
Hoarding of Animal Feces & Decomposing of Animal Remains (Hanta
Virus, tapeworm, cat scratch disease, etc.
 Fire Hazards
 Combustible materials near stove, radiator, heating vents, electrical
outlets, extension cords, lamps
 Resident may be a smoker
 Blocked Exits
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Inability for Emergency Personnel to Enter
Inability for Resident to Exit in event of Emergency
 Risks of Falls
Cluttered walkways
 Structural Damages
 Increased volume & weight can add stress on a home

Protect Yourself
 LHD, CEO, Police/Fire should take extra precautions by
wearing
Masks
Gowns
Gloves
Shoe covers – Think about the host you become of
diseases
 Remain aware of Air Quality
 The main components affecting air quality include gases
such as ammonia and bioaerosols. Bioaerosols include a
wide variety of inflammatory and physiologically active
components, including endotoxin, fungal cell wall
fragments, and respirable dust particles that can reach
lower airways.
Mold
 Mold is the term used for a group of “fungi” common on wet
materials.
 Process: Property owner calls upon discovery, Mold is sampled by
hygienist, abatement plan is followed through by contractor, to
include air duct cleaning, area is resampled by hygienist for post
work check.
 EPA advises that any moldy areas less than 10 square feet (about 3
feet by 3 feet) can be remediated by the homeowner.
 Remediation – Address moisture, Consists of AFD’s, containment
barriers, proper ventilation, clean/disinfect, seal, resampled
The Facts about Mold: For the Professional
 How should a building be evaluated for mold growth?
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Perform an inspection to check building materials
and spaces for visible mold growth, signs of moisture
damage indicating a history of water leaks, elevated
humidity levels, and/or condensation. Occupant
complaints, as well as any musty or moldy odors,
should be noted
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Components of the building’s ventilation system
should be inspected, with emphasis on filters, cooling
coils, the fan chamber, & any internal insulation.
Mold & Health
 Health problems associated with excessive damp conditions and mold
include:
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ALLERGIES
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ASTHMA
Indoor environment research has identified evidence of an association between
damp buildings and asthma symptoms in individuals with pre-existing asthma.
There is also new evidence of an association between damp buildings and newonset asthma
HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS
 Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a kind of lung inflammation that occurs in
persons who develop immune system sensitization (similar to an allergy) to inhaled
organic dust.

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Symptoms include sneezing; irritation of the nose, mouth, or throat; nasal
stuffiness and runny nose; and red, itchy or watery eyes. Inhaling or touching
mold or mold spores can cause a person who was not previously allergic to
mold to become allergic to mold. For people with known allergies, molds can
trigger asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, or cough.
Irritation can also occur in non-allergenic (non-sensitized) people.
Legal Aspects Of Mold Contamination
 Landlord and Tenant: The landlord has a
responsibility to ensure proper living conditions for his
tenants; it is the duty of the landlord to get the mold
removed and pay for any such removal. Landlords who
fail this can be sued by tenants.
 Buyer/Seller: if there is any present mold
contamination in the house, then the seller is required to
make this fact known to any prospective home buyer.
 Employers and Employees: duty of employers to see
that the workplace is fit for employees to work in. If the
air quality at the workplace has been compromised due
to any mold contamination, then employees are entitled
to recover damages for any illnesses suffered by them.
The employer also has a legal responsibility to remove all
signs of mold contamination from the workplace.
Blood Borne Pathogen Remediation
 Governed by OSHA 1910.1030
 Must use an EPA approved disinfectant
 Dwell time is dependent upon the disease
 Certified licensed medical waste hauler
 Proper PPE, Packaging, and Documentation
 Manifestation of Disposal Records
 Clean up can take place anywhere
 outside, inside
THANK YOU!