Lissa Uder, Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

The ingredients used to make methamphetamine in clandestine laboratories are generally household products that by themselves present little danger, but when combined can have serious toxic and explosive effects.

If you came in contact with a methamphetamine lab operation, how would you know it? What ingredients and equipment would be present? What should you do if you find a meth lab? Learn the signs of a potential Meth lab to protect your family and your property from catastrophic damage:

• A strong smell that might resemble urine, or an unusual chemical smell like ether, ammonia or acetone.
• Little or no traffic during the day, but lots of traffic at extremely late hours.
• Extra efforts made to cover windows or reinforce doors.
• Residents never putting their trash out.
• Lab materials surrounding the property (lantern fuel cans, red chemically stained coffee filters, clear glass jugs and duct tape).
• Vehicles loaded with trunks, chemical containers, or basic chemistry paraphernalia - glassware, rubber tubing, etc.
• Laboratory glassware being carried into the residence.
• Inhabitants smoking outside due to fumes.
• Propane tanks with fittings that have turned blue.
• An usual amount of cold tablet containers that list ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as ingredients.
• Jars containing clear liquid with a white or red colored solid on the bottom.
• Jars containing iodine or dark shiny metallic purple crystals inside of jars.
• Jars containing red phosphorus or a fine dark red or purple powder.
• Coffee filters containing a white pasty substance, a dark red sludge, or small amounts of shiny white crystals.
• Bottles containing sulfuric, muriatic or hydrochloric acid.
• Bottles or jars with rubber tubing attached (including soft drink bottles).
• Glass cookware or frying pans containing a powdery residue.
• An large number of cans of camp fuel, paint thinner, acetone, starter fluid, lye, and drain cleaners containing sulfuric acid or bottles containing muriatic acid.
• Large amounts of lithium batteries, especially ones that have been stripped.
• Soft silver or gray metallic ribbon (in chunk form) stored in oil or kerosene. Secretive/protective area surrounding the residence, like video cameras, alarm systems, guard dogs, reinforced doors, electrified fencing.
• Iodine or chemical stained fixtures in the kitchen and bath in sinks, tubs, and reddish stains in carpets or on wallpaper.
• Excessive yellow stains on walls and wood work due to exposure to iodine.
• Corrosion of metal fixtures (vents, vent hoods, etc.) due to exposure to iodine.
• White powder spills on countertops and floors.
• Excess coffee filters, plastic baggies, match book covers with striker plates removed, torn lithium battery casings, antifreeze containers, lantern fuel cans, drain cleaner and duct tape.

If spray starch applied to such carpet or wallpaper stains turns purple, the stain is caused by iodine, a key ingredient in Meth manufacturing. The presence of such stains may indicate previous Meth lab activity in the home.

Signs of Meth lab activity outside a home include burn piles, dead or dying vegetation or buried trash piles.

If You Find a Lab

Do not touch anything in the lab area and do not sniff any containers. Do not turn any electrical power switches or light switches on or off. Do not open or move any of the containers with chemicals in them.

Whatever you do, do not smoke, eat or drink anywhere near a methamphetamine laboratory.

If you come in contact with a meth lab, you should decontaminate yourself and your clothing as quickly as possible, and wash your hands and face thoroughly. Call your local authorities immediately and explain your concerns. Do not attempt to gather evidence on your own and never handle any of the materials that may be associated with a lab.

Cleaning up a clandestine meth lab is a dangerous and complicated process which should be handled by trained professionals. Do not attempt to clean up or dispose of a suspected meth lab yourself.

Visit my next blog and we will discuss the methods of decontaminating meth labs.

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 2) Common Ingredients

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 4) Cleaning Up

Would you swallow a spoonful of drain cleaner? Does the thought of injecting brake fluid into your arm appeal to you? Care to top off your dessert with a bit of rat poison? How about a big drink of starting fluid to start the day?

These are just a few of the common ingredients in Meth. One reason behind the explosive growth in Meth labs is the availability of the components. When users smoke, inject or drink Meth, this is what they are sending to their brain, cardiovascular system and throughout their bodies:

◙Alcohol - Gasoline additives or Rubbing Alcohol
◙Ether (starting fluid)
◙Benzene
◙Paint thinner
◙Freon
◙Acetone
◙Chloroform
◙Camp stove fuel
◙Anhydrous ammonia
◙White gasoline
◙Pheynl-2-Propane
◙Phenylacetone
◙Phenylpropanolamine
◙Rock, table or Epsom salt
◙Iodine crystals
◙Red Phosphorous
◙Toluene (found in brake cleaner)
◙Red Devil Lye
◙Drain cleaner
◙Muraitic acid
◙Battery acid
◙Lithium from batteries
◙Sodium metal
◙Ephedrine
◙Cold tablets
◙Diet aids
◙Iodine
◙Bronchodialators
◙Energy boosters

Lab equipment including tubing, unmarked Mason jars with tubes attached, stained coffee filters, 2-liter pop bottles, blenders, camera batteries, wooden matches, propane cylinders and hot plates are tip offs to the production of Meth.

Individually, each product is legal and useful. But when mixed together and processed, the results are deadly - to the producer, user and innocent bystanders.

When the ingredients are combined, they can ignite, causing explosions, fires and the release of toxic fumes. Many times, the waste material is dumped outdoors, causing irreparable damage to the environment and drinking water. Vapors seep into plaster and wood. Harsh liquids that are dumped or spilled can remain for a long time as residue in bathtubs, toilets or sinks.

Visit my next blog to learn how to spot a meth lab on your property.

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 1)

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 3) Recognizing A Lab

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 4) Cleaning Up

Meth can be manufactured anywhere, including in a "cook's" home. This may be a property you own and are leasing to the "cook", or a house that you are considering purchasing. These home labs leave contamination and severe health risks even after the drug is no longer being manufactured in the residence.

A methamphetamine laboratory is typically not a large, permanent facility. It can even be manufactured in a coffee pot. The ingredients are common and generally easy to come by. In fact, meth can be made in makeshift labs small enough to be stored in a suitcase and set up anywhere. These labs have been discovered in the country, in small towns and in the largest cities, in homes, garages, apartments and motels.

Being in or near a Meth lab is extremely dangerous. The toxic nature of the ingredients leaves behind hazardous waste - six pounds of residue are generated by each pound of Meth manufactured. Clean up of a meth lab can run as high as $10,000.

The toxic effects of exposure to Meth lab chemicals depends on three factors: the lab process and chemicals used, the amount of chemicals and length of exposure, and the age and health of the person exposed. Chemicals may enter the body by being breathed, eaten or absorbed through the skin. Short term effects of exposure to the lab chemicals or byproducts include shortness of breath, a cough, chest pains, dizziness, skin lesions and/or burns to the skin, eyes, nose and mouth. Over the long term, the health risks of even low level exposure include brain, liver and kidney damage, cancer, birth defects and death.

Meth Manufacturing Contaminates Indoors and Out

Outdoors, Meth lab contamination results from manufacturing or the dumping or burning of waste on or near soil, surface water, groundwater, sewer or septic systems.

Contamination caused by the "cooking" and disposing of Meth inside a home will affect: floors, walls, ceilings, working surfaces, furniture, carpeting, paneling, wallpaper, draperies, blinds, light fixtures, kitchen appliances, plumbing fixtures and drains, vent fans, ceiling fans, heating and air-conditioning vents, clothing, toys, etc.

Missouri statutes require that the present or past existence of meth labs on any property sold, leased or transferred must be disclosed.

Applies if meth is or was produced on any part of the property, inside or out.

Applies to the sale, rental, exchange, lease, or any other transfer of real property.

Applies whether the property had a structure on it or not - improved or unimproved property.

Requires that the owner, seller, landlord or other transferor make the disclosure.

Applies if the owner, seller, landlord or other transferor has or had knowledge of the prior methamphetamine production.

Disclosure is required regardless of whether the persons involved in the production of the methamphetamine were convicted for production.

In my next blog, we will discuss common ingredients used in the production of meth.

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 2) Common Ingredients

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 3) Recognizing a Lab

Property Owners-Be Aware Of Meth Labs (Part 4) Cleaning Up

Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, a dog will bite. If you do suffer a bite, get to water and wash the wound immediately. This will decrease the chance of infection. Seek medical care as soon as possible.

If it was your own dog that bit you, confine it and call your Vet to check your dog's vaccination records.

If someone else's dog bit you, contact authorities and tell them everything you can about the dog, including owner's name (if known), color, size, and breed of dog, where the incident took place, circumstances leading up to the attack, and any ideas you may have on where the dog may be.

Even if the bite can be explained or was provoked, it's important to take responsibility for your dog's actions.

Restrain the dog immediately. Separate it from the area attack.

Check the victim's condition. Help them to wash the wound. If serious injury has occurred, call emergency personnel. Encourage the victim to seek medical advice to evaluate the severity of the wounds and risk of infection.

Provide important information. Your name, address, and information about the dog's vaccination and health history are crucial. If your dog doesn't have a current rabies vaccination, it may be necessary to quarantine him until a diagnosis of rabies can be ruled out.

Report the bite to your insurance company. The costs resulting from dog bites can be quite overwhelming.

Comply with local ordinances regarding the reporting of dog bites. All bites should be reported to authorities immediately.

Consult your Vet or a trainer for advice about dog behavior that will help prevent similar problems in the future.

Although there are guaranteed methods for preventing dog bites, following these key rules is essential to reduce the risk.

*Don't let your dog run freely.

*Teach children safe and appropriate behavior around dogs.

*Keep your dog in optimal health.

*Don't run from an aggressive dog.

*Refrain from putting your dog in uncomfortable situations.

*Learn to read your dog's body language.

*Provide positive social interaction for your dog.

*Train your dog in basic obedience.

*Love your dog and have fun with him.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite?

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behavior

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO, Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy

There are usually warning signs before a bite occurs, but these can be very subtle and might be missed. Signs that the dog is telling you "I am nearing the end of my patience" may include:

He turns his head away from you or gets up and moves away.

He looks at you with a pleading expression.

He yawns, licks his chops, suddenly starts scratching, or licking himself when you're approaching or interacting with him.

He is wagging his tail with a slow deliberate wag with the tail held straight and parallel to the ground or high over the back. A nervous dog may also wag his tail between his legs or just wag the tip of his tail.

If he lowers himself to the floor and stares at you, chances are he's getting into a position to jump at you. On the other hand, if he lies down and rolls over showing his tummy, he's probably asking for a good belly rub.

Snarling, growling, barking, and showing teeth should always be considered as signs of aggression. It is best to leave the animal alone and not try to physically comfort him.

It is natural for us, as humans, to run from things that frighten us. Bad idea! So, what should we do when an unfriendly dog approaches us?

Don't run away crying or screaming, no matter how scary he seems. If you try to walk away backwards, you may trip and fall. You'll make yourself prey. Butch's instinct is to chase, attack, or tear the prey apart.

"Make like a tree". Trees are boring. The dog will lose interest and go about his business. To assume the "tree" position, cross your arms over your chest with your hands under your arm pits. Stand very still and look away from the dog. Stay in this position until it is safe to leave the area. Remember to walk away calmly.

If a bite seems inevitable, put anything you have in his mouth. Let him bite your purse, hat, jacket, grocery bag, whatever. Try to remain calm.

If he knocks you to the ground, get on your knees and bend over. Fold your arms behind your neck to protect your face, ears, head, and neck. Try to be very still. Stay in this position until the dog has left the area.

Visit my next blog to learn what to do if you or someone else gets bitten by a dog.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behavior

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got Me!