Determining extent and distribution of methamphetamine in cars: Air vs. surface vs. fabrics

Methamphetamine can be manufactured or smoked in vehicles resulting in contamination. In addition, the transportation of drugs between place of manufacture and distribution can lead to contamination. Subsequent passengers or drivers of contaminated vehicles could be exposed to thirdhand drugs. Individuals exposed to thirdhand contamination have shown adverse health symptoms including respiratory problems, headaches, and behavioural and cognitive issues. Therefore, it is important to determine the overall methamphetamine contamination extent of cars to protect public health. This study was undertaken to determine the extent and distribution of contamination on surfaces, in air and from porous materials in two cars that tested positive for methamphetamine. Air sampling was performed in two cars using two sorbent tube types, followed by solvent desorption, and analysis using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Additionally, surface wipe sampling and bulk material sampling was performed for one of the contaminated cars that was going to be destroyed. These results demonstrated that methamphetamine can be detected in air, on the surfaces of non-porous and porous materials and from within porous materials. Results also demonstrated that methamphetamine was still detected from a second, third and fourth wipe sampling event of a plastic surface, indicating that there is a necessity for further research on testing and remediation in cars.