Hazardous events resulting from methamphetamine production, including explosions and environmental damage, are increasing, according to two new reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Methamphetamine-related events recorded by the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system increased from 184 in 2000 to 320 in June, 2004, totaling 1,791 events in the 16 states that use HSEES. Washington (399 events) and Missouri (351) reported the most events.

These events resulted in almost 960 injuries. Police officers and other first-responders were most frequently injured, although 13 children also were injured. The most frequent injuries were respiratory irritation, headache, eye irritation, and burns. Nine people died as a result of their injuries.

At least 164 of the injuries were the result of anhydrous ammonia being stolen for use during drug production. These thefts resulted in 36 injuries, mainly to the general public. Injuries occur when ammonia gets stolen from tanks in commercial and agricultural areas and the tanks' valves are left open. Ammonia creates a dense gas that travels along the ground instead of rising into the air and dispersing, increasing the potential for exposure.

Researchers are developing additives to help curb anhydrous ammonia thefts and releases. At Iowa State, chemists are working on an additive that could be mixed with ammonia so it is useless for meth production. Also, Glotell, an additive made by Royster Clark, Inc. in Virginia, turns anhydrous ammonia fluorescent pink, which could help farmers determine when ammonia tanks are leaking and decrease the potency of the produced methamphetamine.

The CDC also urges first-responders to wear personal chemical-protective equipment, including positive-pressure, self-contained breathing apparatuses.

Both reports were published in the April 15, 2005 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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