Converting ephedrine to methamphetamine produces volatile and toxic chemical waste. A 2003 study of chemical exposures at meth labs, conducted by Dr. Jefferey Burgess at the University of Washington, found the chemical exposures of greatest concern…

The study highlighted iodine as a likely cause of mucus membrane and eye irritation reported at many lab seizures, and stated that the persistence of iodine in the environment of the cook, &#8220is very important to the children that are present in clandestine laboratories as well as children who inadvertently become residents in a building previously used as a methamphetamine laboratory. Children crawling on contaminated carpet may pick up high levels of iodine.”

Aside from waste chemicals produced from cooking, meth contamination was found in every one of the 16 buildings tested in the study, all of which housed meth labs at some point.

&#8220Even labs that had been busted several months prior to testing still had contamination levels of methamphetamine present on many surfaces within the building,” the report stated.

In one controlled meth cook, researchers placed a teddy bear 12 inches from the cook area and afterward checked the bear's pH level and tested the bear's ‘fur' for meth contamination. The teddy bear had an extremely acidic pH of 1, and was highly contaminated with meth.

According to the study, &#8220Children playing with such toys may be exposed to strong acids contained within the toy, causing severe burns to the skin and mucus membranes, and also be exposed to significant concentrations of methamphetamine - particularly if the toy is placed in the mouth.”

- Frontiersman staff