Testing of meth houses ‘flawed’

A review of methamphetamine contamination guidelines is under way but one Palmerston North realtor is worried unaware homeowners are paying for unnecessary meth testing.

The Ministry of Health’s guidelines state 0.5 micrograms per 100 square centimetres is an acceptable level of contamination for a house used as a methamphetamine laboratory.

The Government admitted earlier this year the current guidelines were not fit for purpose due to the fact they were written for meth cooking, and not using. The Government was also in the process of reviewing the figures.

However, Gill Welch, who owns Boutique Reality, was concerned that without guidelines or watchdogs for the testing industry, the fear of meth was being used to take advantage of people.

Welch said the testing method needed to be addressed, as she believed it was flawed.

The testing is usually done by a meth testing inspector and can cost about $250 for a swab kit, which will return either a positive or negative reading. If a positive reading is returned a more expensive laboratory test is required to determine the extent of the contamination.

The testing was meant to be done at a forensic test level, but Welch said she had witnessed some terrible testing conditions. ’’I’ve seen one of the testers drop the swabs on the floor and pick it up again. I’ve seen them move a ladder then touch a swab.

‘‘I just think at the moment it’s rife for abuse and there’s lots of people making money. People are terrified of meth. The problem is it’s not fair making an industry on it if it’s not completely [factual].’’

Massey University environmental chemistry senior lecturer Dr Nick Kim said the potential health effects of past P smoking in a house were no worse than those of tobacco, or handling methcontaminated bank notes.

He said if homeowners wanted to clean down to the 0.5 number that was their decision and it would need to be a lot higher to actually be dangerous. ’’I wouldn’t be concerned about any health risk at two to three times the guideline.’’

However, he said a number was needed to work off for organisations and in the interim landlords still had to be shown to do their due diligence by working off the number available to them.

Charlie Mitchell, Housing New Zealand chemical programmes manager, said they also agreed the guidelines for testing needed to be reviewed. ’’The Ministry of Health guidelines were written awhile ago. At that time it wasn’t perceived that consumption would be at the levels that it has reached.’’

He said because of this reason, the guidelines did not cover all they needed to. ’’They were written to address meth ‘cooking’ and not use, meaning they are not entirely suitable for the contamination that occurs through use of meth.’’

Mitchell said they were actively involved in reviewing the guidelines.