LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Health officials say anyone inside a meth house faces serious health hazards -- but it might not only be the people inside the homes.

I wanted to see just how dangerous meth labs can be. They certainly look scary when police haul out those chemicals.

If you suspect your neighbor is cooking meth, keep your distance and call police.

Also Online

View this story

“It's kind of crazy having a meth lab next door.” This meth lab neighbor didn't want to appear on camera. “We called 911 and they told us to call the health department and 911 said we should get checked out by our doctor.”

The most immediate concern if your neighbor is cooking meth is that those dangerous chemicals will catch fire or even blow up.

“Cooking the meth releases a vapor that travels throughout the house, gets in the ventilation system, attach itself to all the materials, the walls, the floor,” says Dr. Judy Nielsen of the Metro Health Department.

You’ll see the Metro Narcotics truck at every meth lab bust. What really is more alarming to neighbors though is when they see officers show up in moon suits. But police say those officers are much more at risk than neighbors because of the prolonged risk of exposure.

I put on a hazmat suit to show you how the clandestine lab enforcement team prevents getting contaminated.

Meth labs leave behind toxic waste.

“If they're dumping on your property and you have children or animals that are going out and around in it and walking around it and breathing it, there are definitely health concerns,” says Sgt. Stanley Salyards of Metro Narcotics.

Metro Police and a private contractor remove what dangerous materials they can see. But you never know what meth producers might leave behind.

The health department is both on the scene the day of the meth lab bust, and they also follow up to make sure a home has been cleaned up properly.

Their advice: stay away from your meth lab neighbor's trash.

Web story produced by Jay Ditzer.