ATLANTA,None — More than 150 homes in Georgia have housed methamphetamine labs, but some homeowners may not know about the illegal activity that took place on their property.
Channel 2 Action News obtained a list of homes compiled by the Drug Enforcement Agency that could have once contained toxic and potentially explosive chemicals.
Channel 2's Tom Regan visited one house on the DEA's list. In 2005, federal agents raided the home and dismantled what they described as a "meth super lab." Officials discovered 40 pounds of meth and 250 gallons of sludge and liquids in various stages of the drug manufacturing process.
The current home owner, Liz Aguillon, told Regan she had no knowledge of the home's drug history. Aguillon also told Regan that the Realtor who sold her the house did not disclose that it had been a former meth lab.
An attorney for the Georgia Association of Realtors told Regan that information must be disclosed if the home was not decontaminated in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency standards.
LINK: Check To See If Your Home Housed A Meth Lab
Channel 2 Action News arranged to have the home tested by an environmental engineer to find out if there was any contamination from meth production.
The test, conducted by Scott Zaeske, came back negative, providing some peace of mind for the homeowner.
"We wouldn't know what would happen in 10-15 years if there was some waste left in the house," Aguillon said.
In the course of his investigation, Regan also arranged a controlled meth "cook" with the expert assistance of the Albany Fire Department and the Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit.
Police mixed ephedrine capsules with lye, ether, acetone, drain cleaner and other chemicals at a special firefighters training facility. Vapors from the mix created a small explosion and a large fire which was put out quickly.
"The heat causes the vapors to ignite," said Maj. Bill Berry of the Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit. "You see the chemical we used? That's what people are putting into their bodies."