Methamphetamine Residue Dermal Transfer Efficiencies from Household Surfaces

Abstract

Methamphetamine contamination from illegal production operations poses a potential health concern for emergency responders, child protective services, law enforcement, and children living in contaminated structures. The objective of this study was to evaluate dermal transfer efficiencies of methamphetamine from contaminated household surfaces. These transfer efficiencies are lacking for methamphetamine, and would be beneficial for use in exposure models. Surfaces were contaminated using a simulated smoking method in a stainless steel chamber. Household surfaces were carpet, painted drywall, and linoleum. Dermal transfer efficiencies were obtained using cotton gloves for two hand conditions, dry or saliva moistened (wet). In addition, three contact scenarios were evaluated for both hand conditions: one, two, or three contacts with contaminated surfaces. Dermal transfer efficiencies were calculated for both hand conditions and used as inputs in a Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation model (SHEDS-Multimedia, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C.). Results of this study showed that average dermal transfer efficiencies of methamphetamine ranged from 11% for dry hands to 26% for wet hands. There was a significantly higher wet transfer as compared to dry transfer for all surfaces. For wet hands, dermal transfer depended on surface type with higher transfer from carpet and linoleum as compared to drywall. Based on our estimates of dermal transfer efficiency, a surface contamination clearance level of 1.5 μg/100 cm(2) may not ensure absorbed doses remain below the level associated with adverse health effects in all cases. Additional dermal transfer studies should be performed using skin surrogates that may better predict actual skin transfer.

Exposures associated with clandestine methamphetamine drug laboratories in Australia

“…Methamphetamine is absorbed into porous surfaces including concrete and paint on surfaces that include gyprock walls (plasterboard or drywall) (52,53) and carpets (54). Elevated levels have been found in painted plasterboard surfaces (51, 55), with lower levels found in the plasterboard paper (front and back), and no detections within the gypsum itself (51).…”

“…More recent studies are available defining potential exposures from indoor air, dermal contact, transfer efficiencies and absorption (46,54,(154)(155)(156). These data suggest: -There is the potential for methamphetamine in indoor air to accumulate in skin oil, clothing, bedding, upholstery and fabric adding to potential oral intakes by young children mouthing these types of items (156).…”

Contamination of Homes with Methamphetamine: Is Wipe Sampling Adequate to Determine Risk?

“…However, there is evidence to suggest that the concentrations on different surfaces differ markedly [14,15], as does the transferability [16]. This could have significant implications for assessing properties’ potential risk to public health and for assessors establishing that risk through direct measurements.…”

Investigating the New Zealand policy response to methamphetamine‐contaminated houses

“…The critique focuses on the use of methamphetamine as the root cause of the methamphetamine‐contamination problem 61 . The author also suggests specific research was not considered in the Gluckman report, referencing a study 62 that was considered to be very conservative by the ESR review 11,61 . The author also claims that the Australian Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines are incorrectly described in the Gluckman report as only applying to the remediation of contamination from methamphetamine manufacture 61 .…”