Access #: 517483
Headline: Making meth: The facts
Date: 01/26/00
Day: Wednesday
Credit: The Press -Enterprise
Section: A Section
Zone: ALL ZONES
Page: A07
Notes: Sidebar to "Chemical leftovers pose human hazard"
Subject: CRIME; NARCOTICS; MANUFACTURING
Keys: SOURCE NATION; METH LABS; METHAMPHETAMINE
Type: SERIES
Methamphetamine can be made in small stovetop labs that
produce only a few ounces and can fit in a suitcase, or in large
cooking vats that produce hundreds of pounds for Mexican drug
cartels.
Recipes are on the Internet and are traded nationwide by meth cooks.
Meth includes ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which are
over-the-counter cold and asthma medications.
Here are other chemicals and compounds found in methamphtamine labs:
* Acetic acid
Flammable; vapor is irritating if inhaled; can cause severe burns
to eyes and skin; poisonous if ingested.
* Acetic anhydride
Flammable; vapor is irritating if inhaled; liquid may burn eyes
and skin severely; ingestion causes irritation, pain and vomiting.
* Acetone
Highly flammable; vapor irritates eyes and nose in high
concentrations; inhalation may cause dizziness, narcosis or coma;
liquid may severely damage eyes; ingestion can cause coma.
* Benzyl chloride
Vapor irritates respiratory system, mucous membranes, eyes and
skin; liquid can cause burns; poisonous if ingested.
* Ephedrine
Harmful if swallowed in large quantities.
* Ethyl alcohol
Highly flammable; causes impaired perception and coordination in
high concentrations.
* Ethyl amine
Vapor irritates the mucous membranes, respiratory system and
eyes; may affect the central nervous system in high concentrations;
liquid irritates eyes and skin; poisonous if ingested.
* Ethyl ether
Highly flammable; inhaling vapor or ingesting liquid may cause
drowsiness, dizziness, mental confusion, faintness and, in high
concentrations, unconsciousness.
* Hydriodic acid
Vapor irritates respiratory system, skin and eyes, liquid causes
severe burns to eyes and skin; may cause severe internal irritation
and damage if ingested.
* Hydrochloric acid
Inhaling may cause coughing, choking and inflammation and
ulceration of the respiratory tract; concentrated solutions cause
severe burns; strongly corrosive; causes eye irritation; prolonged
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exposure to vapors can cause death.
* Iodine
Vapor irritates respiratory system and eyes; solid form irritates
eyes and may burn the skin; poisonous if ingested.
* Isopropyl alcohol
Flammable; inhaling vapor in high concentrations or ingesting
liquid may cause headaches, dizziness, depression, nausea, vomiting
or coma; liquid can cause severe eye damage.
* Nitroethane
Vapor irritates eyes and respiratory system; liquid irritates
eyes and mucous membranes; absorption via skin contact or ingestion
may cause liver and kidney damage.
* Petroleum ether
Highly flammable; toxic.
* Phenyl-2-propanone
Irritating to skin and eyes.
* Phenylacetic acid
Moderately toxic by ingestion; has been linked to cancer in
animal experiments; emits smoke and irritating fumes when heated.
* Pseudoephedrine
Harmful if swallowed in large quantities; irritating to skin and
eyes.
* Red phosphorous
Vapors can irritate the nose, throat, lungs and eyes.
* Sodium hydroxide
Concentrated material is very corrosive to human tissue; solid
form or liquid can cause severe burns to eyes and skin; poisonous
if ingested.
* Sulfuric acid
Concentrated acid is extremely corrosive to skin; causes severe
burns.
* Thionyl chloride
Causes burns; irritating to respiratory system if inhaled; may
ignite other combustible material.
* Toluene
Flammable; can burn or irritate mucous membranes, eyes and
respiratory tract; vapors may cause dizziness.
Source: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, First
Responder Awareness training manual
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