Seeking guidance about meth labs from the EPA and her local and state health departments has left the mother of a 6 month-old-infant with unanswered questions.
“I am currently living in a leased home that has a strange pervasive odor – its smells like a mix of smoke/wet drywall/chemical type odor. The home has been extensively remodeled inside prior to us moving in; however cabinets/appliances were not replaced. According to the local police, the previous owners did use crack, and now I am beginning to wonder if they were manufacturing meth also.
When we leave our home the smell is on all of our belongings – I can even smell it on my six month old’s hair and mine, even immediately after a shower. After doing some research I am terrified that there may be something harmful in our home, possibly meth, but no one will help me - I have spoken with the health department, EPA, and the state health department, all to no avail. Our landlord keeps saying he doesn’t know what it is and has done things like provide air fresheners, odor killing powder for the basement floor (small area where fuel oil may have been spilled in the past) and offered to send a cleaning lady to clean the basement (he thinks it may be a fuel oil smell), but none of these things have helped so far. The smell cannot be masked by any amount of air freshener and our clothing smells terrible even after being freshly laundered. I have no idea what to do at this point.
Do you think the odor may be meth? I cannot fathom what else would cause such a pervasive smell and I was informed that proper testing could cost upward of $4,000, which we do not have. At this point I just want out of our lease and to get our deposits back so that we can move, however I don’t think our landlord will allow it and we have several months left on the lease. I would love to hear any thoughts on this.”
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Meth Lab Homes
It’s hard to determine what the smell is coming from, although what you’ve described greatly concerns me. The less time you spend in that home with the baby, the better! Babies and young children absorb more chemicals than adults do, pound for pound, which puts their health at a greater risk. I wouldn’t recommend using air fresheners to get rid of the smell. Air fresheners, may make the air smell better, but they add more chemicals to the air inside your home.
Instead of using air fresheners, I’d let some fresh air in to the house, by opening up some windows. The fresh air will help to reduce the concentration of chemicals that are in the air in your home. If it’s cold outside, you can crack open the windows an inch or two, bump up the heat a little, and then go somewhere warm with the baby while you wait for the house to get aired out. You might want to visit a friend, go to the mall, go out for lunch, etc.
When did you first notice the smell? Did it happen after you turned the heat on or after an oil delivery? Was there anything else that happened around the same time that you first noticed the smell? Has it smelled that way since you moved in? Have you noticed any other signs of a meth lab in the house?
If I were you, I would also contact my baby’s pediatrician, as soon as possible, and tell him/her about the situation and my concerns about my child’s exposure to chemicals. Be sure to tell the doctor that you want the reason for your visit recorded in the baby’s record. Having documentation could help you, if you end up in a legal battle with your landlord.
You mentioned that you called the local police department. Did you also call the state police department or the DEA to ask them if they have any records about a meth lab bust at the home? Keep in mind, however, that the police find only a small fraction of the meth labs that actually exist, so they may not have a meth lab bust record for the house. Have you contacted the CDC? You can reach them at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), TTY: (888) 232-6348.
You should not have to pay for professional testing on that house, that’s supposed to be the owner’s responsibility. I realize, however, that’s easier said than done. It doesn’t sound like your landlord is willing to do that. If you want to have it tested, you may be able to get it tested for less than what you’ve heard. If you need more info about that, email me by clicking on the Contact Us link on this site.
R. Wilkinson
There could be a multitude of issues occurring within the home. If you think it was a meth lab, there are various chemicals or residues which could be lingering, depending of the process of manufacture, the time of year and the extent of contamination. The best thing to do is have a testing company analyze your home. The cost will not be $4000 as stated, but it possibly could be in the $100′s depending on the type of testing done. Best advise is to talk to an expert in the testing field which may not always be the biggest company out there!
colleen
Please move!!!! and if it is meth u may have to toss your things too. The sickness wont go away till you r out and get rid of anything that u had in the house. Dont trust the cops or cdc they wont help. I keeped trying to get help and was nearly arrested for being a nuicence to the police. do some research move and do a system cleanse. For your body. I hope by now your out of there Goodluck.