2003-05-14 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MAY-B2-2B03 12:23 LEAGUE OF n~ CITIES P.07/25 members have become ill from exposure to meth lab chemicals on the clothing of people living or working at lab sites.,,25 3. Cllildr811 . Children are particularly vulnerable to the health effects associated with dnJglabs Deca1.1Se they have immature organ system.st faster metabolic rates, weaker immune systems, they eat more food. drink more fluids, breathe more air per pound of body weight, and certain behaviors such as crawlin8~ dirt eating, and hquent hand-to-mouth contact expose them to more hazards.2d .'Roughly fifty-percent of Minnesota residences where ami labs have been discovered have also housed children. ,,27 Recognizing the special risks to children living in lab environments, "the Minnesota legislatdte has recently expanded child neglect and endangerment law to inolude endangerment through exposure to illegal dNg manufacture and sales."38 4. People Who Move IBta Former Lab Site. The Mixmesota Department of Health has received reports of persons who have moved into former meth lab location$ and have subsequently usuttered chest and respiratory symptoms months after lab chemicals wore removed.'~ ''Even at low levels, exposures . for long periods b~plc liviDa in B former lab site could result in serious health effects.' D. lDc:reased Crime Clandestine dIUg labs, such as methamphetamine labs~ '''ve been associated with increased crime in the SUlTOunding commUDityt inclu.dins domestic abuse, theft and child endangermeDt.,,31 E. Number of Lab Seizures mere..1D1 Less than fifty meth labs were seized in Minnesota in 1998. Since that timc. the number of meth labs found each year has been steadily increasinS. In 2001, Minnesota officials discovered 111 average of almost one lab per day, or about 350oduring the calendar year. 32 v. CLEANUP OF CONTAMINATED SITES . . To assist cities~ counties and the state ill determiniDghow to adequately clean methamphetamine contaminated sites, the MiDnesota Department of Health has published a mzmual entitled: "General Cleanup Guidelines for Clandestine Omg Labs.,,33 A clandestine dnlS lab is a general term referring to any ucollection of materials and ingredients used to manufacture illCaal drugsa Methamphetamine is the drug most commonly made in Minnesota labs/i34 Other illegal dru,. ptoduced in olandestine labs include: LSD. PCP ~ Ecstasy (:MDAlMDPP) and others. -4.