Quantitative analysis of methamphetamine in hair of children removed from clandestine laboratories – Evidence of passive exposure?

Adverse Health Effects Associated with Living in a Former Methamphetamine Drug Laboratory — Victoria, Australia, 2015

“…The detection of amphetamine in the hair of the younger children might reflect environmental exposures in the home, where low levels of amphetamine also were detected in the surface samples analyzed (but not quantified by the laboratory), or the presence of metabolites, supporting the systemic absorption of methamphetamine. The ratio of methamphetamine to amphetamine in the hair was found to be consistent with the mean reported in hair samples from children removed from clandestine drug laboratories and from drug-exposed children (6,7).…”

“…Methamphetamine levels in the hair samples of the two younger children (460 pg/mg and 330 pg/mg) are consistent with the lower end of the range reported in children removed from clandestine drug laboratories (range = 100 pg/mg-131,000 pg/mg) (6,7) and chronic adult drug users (range = 100 pg/mg-128,000 pg/mg) (6,8). The levels reported were similar to those reported in studies conducted on low-level methamphetamine use by adults smoking doses of approximately 500-1,000 mg/day (8).…”

Exposures associated with clandestine methamphetamine drug laboratories in Australia

“…not drug use) to methamphetamine in children are limited (98,193,(205)(206)(207) (70,73,196,207). In some cases (where data are reported) positive detections were reported in hair where no detections were reported in urine (73).…”

Management of clandestine drug laboratories: need for evidence-based environmental health policies

“…Their active nature involving physical contact with their environment may increase their likelihood of being exposed to chemicals and contaminated environments through food, water and surfaces [22]. A New Zealand study found high prevalence of methamphetamine residue in hair samples from children, indicating evidence of passive exposure to methamphetamine [10]. The vulnerability of children to hazardous chemicals such as lead, asbestos and mercury utilised in drug production is another important consideration [22].…”

“…Residual contamination of laboratories poses risks to human and environmental health [10,11]. It has been suggested that chronic or acute exposure to chemical components and/or by-products of methamphetamines may result in long-term health effects in both adults and toddlers and that disposal of hazardous waste from the ''cooking'' process can lead to harmful effects on the environment [11,12].…”