Meth house myth busted
Meth-contaminated social housing previously deemed a health risk could be reopened after a bombshell Government report claiming a much lower risk to humans.
A study by the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser, Peter Gluckman, found New Zealand authorities had made a ‘‘leap in logic’’ setting standards for homes contaminated by the drug being smoked within it.
Essentially, an overseas standard based on what ‘‘clan labs’’ should be cleaned to was now being used as a trigger to start cleaning here, despite there being no health risk at that level.
That means tens of thousands of homes across the country have been needlessly tested and cleaned at a cost of millions of dollars, with some demolished and others left empty.
‘‘In the absence of clear scientific and health information, there has been an assumption among the general public that the presence of even trace levels of methamphetamine residue poses a health risk,’’ Gluckman said.
‘‘There is absolutely no evidence in the medical literature of anyone being harmed from passive use, at any level. We can’t find one case.’’
In response, Housing Minister Phil Twyford has announced new standards and less stringent criteria will be set for houses within the next year – with Housing New Zealand (HNZ) immediately changing its policy.
Several hundred state homes sitting needlessly empty would be put back into use within weeks and HNZ would save up to $30 million a year on testing, Twyford said. ‘‘The great majority of testing and remediation was completely unnecessary.’’
The Christchurch City Council – one of the city’s largest landlords behind HNZ – could follow suit, but will first review Gluckman’s report. A spokeswoman said the council ‘‘would like to be in a position to make decisions by the end of next week’’.
Bruce Rendall, head of facilities, property and planning, said 20 council-owned social housing units currently closed due to traces of methamphetamine residue ‘‘could be reopened for use’’.
Gluckman’s report said the current level of 1.5 micrograms per 100 square centimetres was only useful as a barometer of what to get houses cleaned to after manufacture – not as a trigger to start decontamination.
A measure of 15 micrograms per 100cm2 – 10 times higher – would make more sense as a trigger.
Gluckman said he would not be worried about ‘‘toddlers crawling around on the floor’’ until the meth residue reached the level of several hundred micrograms per
100cm2 – not the current standard of 1.5 – and this was based on a
300-fold safety buffer.
He stressed the Government’s recommendation was still very far below a level where it could become dangerous. ‘‘We’re looking at a 1000-fold safety factor minimum in our recommendations, for a naked toddler crawling around the floor licking every bit of the floor up to several hours a day,’’ Gluckman said.
Champagne Homes owner Yvonne Parker said she had spent considerable money cleaning homes deemed contaminated under the current standard, using sugar soap and repainting the properties.
She was unsure how the Government’s findings would immediately affect private landlords and property investors.
Peter Gluckman, prime ministerial chief science adviser ‘‘There is absolutely no evidence in the medical literature of anyone being harmed from passive use, at any level.’’