Nashville Home Placed in Quarantine After Methamphetamine Laboratory Discovered

WSMV in Nashville recently published a report about the arrest of four individuals from a residence southeast of downtown. According to local police, the four were arrested in connection with the production of methamphetamine (meth). The house in question has been quarantined due to the hazardous chemicals found inside and all eight law enforcement officers who entered the home had to undergo decontamination procedures for health and safety purposes.  

Over the past decade, cases like this where a home is used to produce meth have taken place countless times across Tennessee and the nation. These illicit drug labs are not just confined to single-family homes, meth labs are also regularly housed in apartments, businesses and even hotel rooms. While some are found by authorities and make the news as occurred in this instance, many others are never discovered.

“Future owners or tenants of these homes, apartments and businesses, ones that were previously used to produce meth, could encounter a myriad of hazards,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “The chemicals used in meth production can contaminate buildings by leaving behind hazardous chemical residues in the homes and businesses where it was produced. Many of these same toxic chemicals can also easily contaminate carpeting, wallboard, ceiling tiles, furniture and fabrics that absorb spilled or vaporized chemicals. The only way to know if a property has these toxic hazards in it is to have it tested. Testing is also critical for determining if remediation efforts to make a property safe again have been successful.”

EMSL Analytical, Inc. provides these types of laboratory services and has developed an easy-to-use Methamphetamine Test Kit to identify meth residues on surfaces. The kit provides a simple method to collect a sample that is then sent off to the laboratory. The testing professionals at EMSL have even produced an instructional video that describes common meth sampling techniques that can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/WYEWoeOEc-k.

To learn more about methamphetamine residue testing or other environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.EMSL.com, email  info@EMSL.com  or call (800) 220-3675. To obtain a Methamphetamine Test Kit to sample for surface residues, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. 

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 45 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail