Meth use, meth manufacturing, and meth exposure are not things to take lightly. Yet, was New Zealand at the ‘extreme’ end of action? After reviewing the results of the Peter Gluckman Meth Report surrounding the meth issue in New Zealand, you might be inclined to think so. Let’s take an in-depth look into the 2018 methamphetamine smoking residue report below:

What is the Peter Gluckman Meth Report?

The Peter Gluckman Meth Report is the name given to a report produced by the Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman. It was commissioned by the New Zealand government in 2017.

The new report released in 2018 covers valuable information about methamphetamine contamination in residential properties, including exposure, the interpretation of standards, and risk levels.

The recommendations made in the report saw significant changes in our requirements for testing and reporting. For example, in the wake of learning about ‘safe’ residue levels, Housing New Zealand raised its trigger, and now only test when heavy meth uses is suspected. After spending $100 million trying to clean meth-contaminated houses, the new information would see significant money savings in the future.

The same went for the Real Estate Authority. With recommendations to increase the safe level limits, real estate agents only have to tell potential buyers about meth if the property’s readings are over 15 μg. This is a far higher limit than the only known 2017 standard of 1.5 μg.

Exposure and Health Risks

We were generally led to believe that any meth use in a house meant the house was unsafe and even uninhabitable. Landlords spent tens of thousands of dollars cleaning up meth residue to ensure they were under the 2017 limits of 1.5 μg.

The Peter Gluckman Meth Report sheds more light on the actual health risks of meth exposure. Peter did note that third-hand exposure can happen in a dwelling that was used as a meth lab or where huge volumes of meth were smoked. He also confirmed that there’s evidence of adverse behavioural and physiological symptoms associated with third-hand exposure.

However, the report noted that these symptoms mainly relate to toxic chemicals released during manufacturing. They weren’t typically linked to meth use itself. As a result, most New Zealanders will likely only encounter low levels of residue from meth use.

Cleaning Guidelines

Meth cleaning guidelines in New Zealand were strict. From 2010 to 2017, the only information we had came from a Ministry of Health guideline that was only applicable to former meth labs. This guideline meant that 1.5 μg per 100cm2 was an acceptable post-cleaning meth contamination level. The Ministry of Health likely developed these guidelines from an Australian risk assessment report on former meth labs.

After performing research, Peter Glickman stated in his report that there was a low probability of encountering ‘excessive’ levels of meth in properties where manufacturing activities weren’t suspected. As a result, he didn’t recommend the universal application of the 1.5 μg guideline.

Instead, he recommended a higher 15 μg per 100cm2 guideline and sensitive testing to see if cleaning was needed. If it were, several remediation actions could be taken, such as removing porous materials like furnishings and carpets and cleaning contaminated surfaces.

Changing Guidelines

Several bodies in New Zealand have taken Peter Glickman’s recommendations under advisement, including the previously mentioned Real Estate Authority and Housing New Zealand. However, that’s not to say everyone has.

The Ministry of Health still uses the previous 1.5 μg standards. Insurance companies are also wary. Many define meth contamination based on the New Zealand Standard NZS 8510. In this Standards New Zealand document, it states:

‘After seeking expert advice on exposure risk from Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR) and the Ministry of Health, and reviewing a large number of public comments on a draft of this standard, the committee has decided to set the maximum acceptable level of methamphetamine in an affected property at 1.5 μg /100 cm2 in this standard.

And despite the Real Estate Authority adopting the 15 μg standard, any house that tests over 1.5 μg is untenanted. The only way for policy changes to occur is if the government changes the New Zealand standard.

What Does the Peter Gluckman Meth Report Mean for You?

Essentially, the Peter Gluckman Meth Report offers peace of mind. If you own a home that has previously been owned or lived in by a meth user, you may not need to undertake extensive cleaning to ensure it’s safe for your family. As long as the meth residue levels are under 15 μg per 100cm2, the health risks can be negligible.

Get Help with Meth Cleaning

Dealing with a meth-contaminated home can be daunting when guidelines remain unclear and conflicting. Rely on the team at Chemcare to help. They can provide a thorough decontamination service to reduce the health risks and ensure your home is habitable and safe once more.