What are the general health risks associated with meth labs?
Methamphetamine and its associated chemicals can cause long-term health effects including cancer, damage to the central nervous system, liver, or kidneys, birth defects, and miscarriages. It can also cause memory loss, heart problems, aggression and violence. Meth causes health problems not just for the users, but also for others who are unintentionally exposed to the meth or associated chemicals. People who enter a meth lab before it has been properly cleaned and ventilated may feel headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, lack of coordination, burns and even death. Risk of injury or toxicity from chemical exposure varies, depending on the toxic properties of the chemicals or byproducts, their quantity and form, concentration, duration of exposure, and route of exposure. Systemic absorption of chemicals or injury may occur by one or more of the following routes of exposure: 1. Inhalation 2. Skin exposure 3. Ingestion (swallowing) 4. Injection.
