Parents are being warned about the prospect of methamphetamine contamination in public spaces after a 7NEWS investigation found traces of the drug at multiple southeast Queensland parks.
Of the 15 places tested using kits from Australian Meth Alerts, one had a positive reading of methamphetamine contamination and eight had evidence of traces of meth.
David Pie from Australian Meth Alerts swabbed a range of surfaces at the parks, including benches, tables, barbecues, toilets and baby change tables. Most of the parks have playgrounds.
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“One of my best mates comes down here with his two-year-old a couple of times a week and he’s subjected to this,” Pie told 7NEWS.com.au after finding the positive reading at 7th Brigade Park in Chermside.
“There’s an issue here.”
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The eight places with traces of meth did not have high enough volumes of the drug to register a positive reading for contamination.
In one test, meth traces were found on a baby change table in a public toilet at Aurora Boulevard Park at North Lakes.
“(The reading) clearly shows there is evidence of some level of meth residue contamination on the baby change table,” Pie said.
“It’s very disturbing. You just wouldn’t want to be changing your kid’s nappy here.”
Methamphetamine contamination can have health impacts including skin, eye and respiratory irritation as well as dizziness, headache and insomnia.
7th Brigade Park in Chermside was found to be contaminated with meth. Credit: 7NEWS
A Queensland family was recently forced out of their rental home after discovering it was riddled with methamphetamine residue.
The Sandstone Point home registered 1.3 micrograms of methamphetamine per 100 sq cm. A safe level of meth residue is below 0.5 micrograms per 100 sq cm, according to the Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines.
The Australian Drug Foundation says in properties where drugs were manufactured in labs, meth residue “may be concentrated enough to be a health risk”.
The organisation also claims “methamphetamine contamination is not considered a health risk in homes where people have simply used methamphetamine”.
Australian Meth Alerts kits were used in the 7NEWS investigation. Credit: 7NEWS
“While methamphetamine may build up on the surfaces of a home where ice is smoked, such as benches and curtains, the residue is not concentrated enough to harm future residents,” it says.
Little is known about the potential for health impacts of meth contamination in public places.
Jackie Wright, an expert in second-hand exposure to drugs from Flinders University, said it is likely the risk of exposure to meth residue in public places is similar to that in homes.
“I think it’s confronting for people to realise that there are lots of places where meth residues are present,” she told 7NEWS.
“It comes primarily from people using meth in those particular settings.
“However, one of the things to remember is just because it’s present doesn’t mean we’re going to be exposed for long enough or at high enough levels to cause health effects.
“Having it present in toilets and baby change tables is not unexpected, but it can be alarming, absolutely.”
Pie said people concerned about exposure to meth contamination can contact him via info@methalerts.com.au or 0412 132 142 to learn more about testing kits.
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