ABSTRACT
Exposure to the materials involved in the illicit manufacture of drugs and explosives is a topic that does not receive the level of attention required to instill the significance of the short- and long-term effects repeated, or in some cases ancillary, encounters with these substances can have on the individuals charged with investigating and dismantling these operations. As in many situations, knowledge is power. Understanding the adverse health effects of exposure to a chemical substance, toxicology, provides the knowledge required to protect against their toxic effects.
This chapter will provide generic information concerning how toxic materials enter the body, what happens when the toxin reaches its target (mode of action), and methods to minimize the entry of toxic materials into the body. Factors that influence the toxicity of a material and its short- and long-term effects on the body will also be discussed. The goal is to provide a basic understanding of how the materials used to manufacture drugs and explosives can adversely impact individuals who encounter them as part of a clandestine laboratory investigation. This chapter is not to act as a substitute for professional training as required by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or the international equivalent. A secondary purpose is to encourage individuals actively involved in clandestine laboratory investigation to seek out and embrace training associated with hazardous materials, because the hidden hazards of these may be more dangerous than the physical hazards associated with the seizure and disposal of the laboratory items themselves.
