Better Remediation of Methamphetamine Contamination

BRISBANE, Australia - Dec. 1, 2019 - PRLog -- Environmental Health Australia (EHA), in conjunction with the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association (ALGA), has endorsed a new code of practice, for the remediation of former clan labs and meth contaminated properties.

In 2016 – 2017, over 436 labs were detected nationally and 63.9% of those were in residential areas. The residue from a meth lab (a home or shed used to cook methamphetamine) can linger in the walls and other surfaces for many years placing residents at risk for over a decade after the building was used for illicit drug manufacturing. Environmental Health Officers and local governments are usually responsible for the remediation of these properties to ensure public health and safety.

The Voluntary Code of Practice - Former clan labs and meth contaminated properties is to act as a tool to improve consistency within the industry and improve the testing and remediation of these properties.

"It is also really important that EHO's (Environmental Health Officers) and others, such as insurers, can understand what good practice in this area is. Given the uncoordinated state of this industry, it is important that the code of practice is released as soon as possible," said Jackie Wright from Flinders University who designed the code of practice.

EHA president Philip Swaine said EHA is proud to endorse, and release for use, this new code of practice and will continue to support Environmental Health Practitioners through advocacy and training. He stressed that with multiple jurisdictions across Australia and no common regulatory approach, that it was important that the industry moves toward uniform standards which the Code provides a basis for.

https://www.eh.org.au/resources/knowledge-centre/australian-voluntary-code-of-practice---former-clan-labs-and-meth-contaminated-properties

Environmental Health Australia is committed to the enhancement of environmental health standards and services to the community through advocacy, promotion, education and leadership.

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