JACKSON COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE
HAZARDS OF METH LAB INGREDIENTS

Chemicals and equipment used to “cook” meth in illegal makeshift labs create an immediate danger of explosion and fire. The process also leaves behind waste that contaminates the site – often a house, apartment or other dwelling – and poses a threat both to the environment and the health of future occupants.

Typical Chemicals Found in Lab Sites	Common Legitimate Uses	Poison	Flammable	Toxic Vapors	Explosive	Corrosive	Skin Absorption	Common Health Hazards
Acetone	Fingernail polish remover, solvents	X	X	X			X	Reproductive disorders
Methonol	Brake Cleaner fluid, fuel	X	X	X			X	Blindness, eye damage
Ammonia	Disinfectants	X		X		X	X	Blistering, lung damage
Benzene	Dye, varnishes, lacquers	X	X		X	X	X	Carcinogen, Leukemia
Ether	Starters fluid, anesthetic	X	X		X			Respiratory Failure
Freon	Refrigerant, propellants	X		X		X		Frostbite, Lung damage
Hydriodic Acid	Driveway cleaner	X		X		X	X	Burns, Thyroid Damage
Hydrochloric Acid(HCL Gas)	Iron ore processing, mining	X		X		X	X	Respiratory, Liver Damage
Iodine Crystals	Antiseptic, Catalyst	X	X		X	X		Birth Defects, Kidney Failure
Lithium Metal	Lithium batteries	X				X	X	Burns, Pulmonary Edema
Muriatic Acid	Swimming pool cleaners	X		X		X		Burns, Toxic Vapors
Phosophine Gas	Pesticides	X		X			X	Respiratory Failure
Pseudosphedrine	Cold medicines	X						Abuse: Heart Damage
Red Phosphorus	Matches, fireworks	X	X	X	X			Unstable, Flammable
Sodium Hydroxide	Drain cleaners, lye	X		X		X	X	Burns, Skin Ulcers
Sulfuric Acid	Battery Acid	X		X		X	X	Burns, Thyroid Damage
Toluene	Paint, thinners, solvents	X	X	X	X		X	Fetal Damage, Pneumonia
Liquid Lab Waste	None	X	X	X	X	X	X	Unknown long term effects

Source: http://dec.co.riverside.ca.us/fyi/hazards.htm