By MARK TODD



Staff Writer

mtodd@starbeacon.com



Hazardous waste crews can deal with the chemicals and equipment used to make methamaphetamine, but the house or building used to hide the illegal factory is another matter.

A growing number of meth factories in the area has local health officials wondering about the safety of the structures left behind when the clandestine labs have been yanked. The meth-making process produces gases, fumes and particles that can contaminate the interior of a building.

"There are long-term clean-up effects (associated with the making of meth)," said Cady Hutchinson, environmental health inspector for Conneauts health department. "The residue is getting to be a big issue."

Ray Saporito, Ashtabula County health commissioner, agreed. "So much depends on how much meth was in there and how much was put into the air," he said.

Ohio has nothing on the books pertaining to the disposition of a meth lab site once it has been busted, Hutchinson said.

"Some states have mandatory clean-up (provisions) and require disclosure (of the buildings history to a prospective buyer or tenant)," she said. "Ohio has no meth laws. Were hoping (officials) do something on the state level."

Establishing standards complicates the regulatory process, said Kristopher Weiss, Ohio Department of Health spokesman.

"From a public health perspective, there are no scientific standards to establish whether a building is safe for use after use as a meth lab," he said in a statement. "Also, there is no science to establish clean-up standards after a building has been used as a meth lab. Therefore (the ODH) would not support such regulations at this time."

The meth problem is acute in Ashtabula County, which ranks second in Ohio for the number of labs seized by authorities. But does that mean the area will be dotted with buildings forever off-limits because of their history?

Not necessarily.

Marc Onesta, owner of Bio Clean Services in Hudson, specializes in restoring homes and buildings used as meth factories. The process isnt easy or cheap, but good results are the norm, he said.

"It can be done," Onesta said.

The business is no stranger to Ashtabula County. Onesta and his team has decontaminated a meth house a short distance from Rock Creek Elementary School, and recently examined a project in Conneaut.

Chemicals used in the manufacture can create a toxic byproduct that spreads through the building, Onesta said. As a result, all furnishings in a meth house are discarded, Onesta said. Fumes and powders can penetrate chairs, sofas, bedding, drapes - - even TVs and kitchen appliances - - and so they must go.

"Everything thats even a little bit porous is thrown out," Onesta said. "Basically, were working with bare walls and floors."

Before work begins, the team wipes all surfaces with swabs that are analyzed to determine the extent of contamination. Then the entire structure gets a good scrubbing with water and a special solution, Onesta said. Ductwork and the furnace is also sanitized.

"Fumes have circulated throughout the home," he said. "The entire ventilation system must be cleaned."

The process generally spans a few days, Onesta said. "The houses we deal with are usually filled with garbage, so it takes a couple of days to prep before it is cleaned," he said.

When the work is done, the house is tested again to gauge its cleanliness, Onesta said.

Workers wear masks and protective gear, but there are other situations - - all man-made - - that pose special hazards. Besides the syringes that sometimes litter the premises, crews sometimes deal with booby-traps left behind by the drug-makers, Onesta said.

In one house, workers found explosives set to detonate by a cellular telephone call, he said.

"There have been trip-wires and hooks on doors," Onesta said. "Youve got to be aware of this."

Landlords are Onestas biggest clients, and they can expect to pay upwards of $5,000 to restore an average 1,500-square foot house. Unfortunately, Onesta doesnt expect a lull in business anytime soon.

"(Meth labs) are getting out of the cities and moving to more rural areas," he said. "Its going to get worse."