Jocelyn L. Prendergast, MSc

Contractor / KT ConsultingResearch Chemist

Education MSc Forensic Science (2004 -2005)

University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland

OCME - Toxicology Laboratory The comparison, development and validation of two

extraction methods for the detection of Barbiturates by GC/MS.

BSc (Hons) Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry (2000-2004)

University of Glasgow, Scotland

SRM Work

Drugs of Abuse in Human Serum Cotinine in Freeze Dried Urine Drugs of Abuse in Human Hair Antiepilepsy Drugs in Human

Serum Smoking Marker’s in Human Urine

Non-SRM Work Evaluation of point-of-collection Oral

Fluid Drugs Screening Devices

Oleoresin Capsicum Canister Study (OLES)

Evaluation of Field Test Kits for the detection of Methamphetamine Residue for the Remediation of Clandestine Meth Labs

Methamphetamine Remediation

What is a Clandestine Meth lab?

Where are they found?

What are the hazards/dangers?

How do you make Meth?

Who is responsible for their clean-up?

What is a Clandestine Lab? Clandestine = marked by, held in or

conducted with secrecy1

1Merriam Webster Dictionary

A clandestine lab is a lab that is hidden and used to illegally manufacture controlled substances.

“Mom & Pop” Labs

Where are they found? In the US

Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol) Asthma Medicine Battery Acid Cold Medicine – ephedrine /

pseudoephedrine Drain Cleaner Hydrochloric Acid Lantern Fuel Red Phosphorous

How do you make Meth?

How do you make Meth?

Cooking -where precursors are mixed with solvents and heated to form the drug base.

Extraction – base is removed from excess solvents and other undesirable substances.

Salting or Drying – where the product is converted to its final usable form and then dried.

Method 1: P-2-P

Method 2: RED P

Method 3: Nazi or Birch

What are the hazards/dangers?

Extremely Flammable Toxic

Respiratory Problems Skin Irritations Eye Irritations Headaches Nausea Dizziness Loss of Coordination

Environmental Effects

• Liver Damage

• Kidney Damage

• Damage to the CNS

Who is responsible?

Property owner is responsible for cleaning up the property.

Except for Colorado

Average Cost $5000 ($20,000)

Meth is a condensation aerosol and can be readily resuspended from contaminated surfaces.

Methamphetamine Remediation Act 2007

Requires EPA, in consultation with NIST to establish voluntary guidelines for the remediation of former methamphetamine labs, including site assessments and the remediation of residual contaminants.

Relevant standards, guidelines and requirements in laws and regulations, the varying types and locations of former methamphetamine labs, and the expected cost of carrying out any proposed guidelines.

Methamphetamine Remediation Act 2007

Voluntary guidelines are to be used to assist state and local governments in the development and implementation of legislation and other policies to apply state of the art knowledge to the remediation of former labs. 

Requires EPA / NIST to periodically update the guidelines, in consultation with states and other interested parties, as necessary and appropriate to incorporate research findings and other new knowledge.

Meth Reside Field Test Kits

Sensitivity The lowest possible concentration of

methamphetamine that can be positively detected.

Limit of Detection (LOD) LOD begin as low as 0.05 µg/100cm3

State Clearance Levels Range from 0.5-1.0 µg/100cm3

Selectivity

Possible False Positives Methamphetamine Derivatives Amphetamines Precursors – ephedrine / pseudoephedrine

Other Substances to Test Other Drugs of Abuse

Cocaine, Heroin, MDMA etc Common household items

Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Baking Soda, Excedrin, Mace, Salt, Sugar, Tea, Tobacco etc

GC/MS

Schematic of ID-MS

Thin Layer Chromatography

A chromatography technique used to separate mixtures.

Performed on a sheet of adsorbent material called the stationary phase.

Solvent (mobile phase) is drawn up the plate via capillary action.

Analytes ascend at different rates resulting in separation.

Thin Layer Chromatography

Monitor the progress of a reaction

Identify compounds present

in a given substance Determine the purity of a

substance Separation of Black Ink

Teacher’s Preliminary Preparation

Assemble a collection of pens Create a devious message Prepare the TLC Plates Methyl Alcohol (Hardware stores have it!) Several blacklights Large bell jars with lids Small containers (e.g. bottle cap, mouthwash

cup) Paper towel Tweezers

Protocol for Ink Identification

4 Pens Unknown handwriting

sample Methyl alcohol TLC Plate Large Bell Jar with lid A pipet tip Tweezers Paper Towel Safety Glasses!

You will need:

Preparing the TLC Plate

1 cm

6.6 cm

16 cmPencil lines

• Mark TLC plate with a pencil line 1 cm from bottom.

• Pencil in 5 marks across the line, 1 cm apart.

Origin

Protocol for Ink Identification

Equilibration

• 15mL methyl alcohol to bell jar. Screw lid tightly and shake.

Exemplars • Prepare to spot the TLC plate with the 4 known pens.

Development Chamber• Once all your ink spots are dry place the TLC plate inot the Bell Jar.

Questioned Sample • Prepare to spot TLC plate with unknown ink sample.

Most inks are a mixture of many colors.

Look at your TLC plate under the black light.

Mark the center of each spot with a cross.

Protocol for Ink Identification

Not all black is black

solvent

analytef d

dR