Controlled smoking of methamphetamine in a car and initial remediation by ventilation: Analysing air, surfaces and fabrics

Methamphetamine is smoked in vehicles leading to contamination and possible thirdhand exposure risks. This study was performed to determine the extent and distribution of methamphetamine after controlled smoking of the drug within a car. After three controlled smoking events over three weeks, the car windows were opened for ventilation for eight weeks. Air sampling, surface wipe sampling, and fabric sampling were performed after smoking and ventilation. All samples were extracted using a modified version of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 9111 method for methamphetamine by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Methamphetamine was detected in air in the passenger compartment and rear storage areas using XAD-2 resin sorbent tubes ranging from 0.19 to 0.96 μg/m 3 . Concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 41.2 μg/100 cm 2 for car fabric surfaces and 0.17 to 3.66 μg/sample for the plastic air vents. Cotton, faux leather, neoprene, and polyester fabrics were placed on the seats and sampled after the smoking events and venting periods. Cotton ranged from 1.68 to 32.3 μg/sample, faux leather from 1.27 to 16.6 μg/sample, neoprene from 0.46 to 15.5 μg/sample and polyester from 0.41 to 2.36 μg/sample. Methamphetamine detected from air, surfaces, and fabrics in a car after controlled smoking of a total of 0.6 g of methamphetamine hydrochloride indicate widespread contamination of materials in the car and potential for thirdhand exposure. Methamphetamine was detected at lower concentrations after eight weeks ventilation from air, on surfaces, and on fabrics, indicating the potential for some extent of remediation. • Methamphetamine was detected in air after three controlled smoking events in a car. • Highest concentrations were recovered from cotton then faux leather then neoprene. • The drug was detected at lower levels after venting the car for eight weeks. • Air, surfaces, and fabrics are potential sources for thirdhand exposure after smoking in a car.