{"id":2029366,"date":"2023-09-12T14:47:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T18:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/study-detects-persistent-fentanyl-meth-in-air-and-on-surfaces-of-public-transit-but-officials-are-totally-chill-about-it\/"},"modified":"2023-09-12T14:50:23","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T18:50:23","slug":"study-detects-persistent-fentanyl-meth-in-air-and-on-surfaces-of-public-transit-but-officials-are-totally-chill-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/study-detects-persistent-fentanyl-meth-in-air-and-on-surfaces-of-public-transit-but-officials-are-totally-chill-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Study finds fentanyl and meth present in public transit air and surfaces, but officials unconcerned."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstudy-detects-persistent-fentanyl-meth-in-air-and-on-surfaces-of-public-transit-but-officials-are-totally-chill-about-it%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2029366&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Study Detects Persistent Fentanyl,\u2063 Meth in Air and\u200b on Surfaces of Public Transit &#8211; But Officials Are\u2062 Totally Chill About It<\/h2>\n<p>Breathing deep on public transit in Seattle or Portland, Oregon, while clutching just about anything\u2063 on board means sucking in methamphetamine and quite likely grabbing hold of some second-hand fentanyl, according to a new \u200cstudy.<\/p>\n<p>As alarming as that sounds,\u2063 the party line coming out\u200d of the University of Washington study\u200d is that \u200cthe levels are too \u2064low \u2064for riders to\u2064 become sick.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWhile the presence of drugs in a\u2064 public place may initially seem alarming, we would like to try to put \u200bthis data in perspective,\u201d the Oregon and Washington Poison Centers said in a joint statement on\u200b the study.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExposures to\u2063 the quantities of drug \u200ddemonstrated in this study are too\u2062 small to\u200b produce physical\u2063 effects from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/invisible-electromagnetic-fields-do-they-harm-your-health\/\" title=\"Invisible Electromagnetic Fields\u2014Do They Harm Your Health?\">short-term exposure<\/a> that a rider would experience,\u201d they said. \u201cTherefore, individuals who use public transportation\u200c for travel needs should continue to feel safe doing so.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Health officials also pushed back against\u200c any panic.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s\u2063 important to \u200chave studies like this one from the University\u200d of Washington to help identify when there are new substances that may\u200c be circulating in our indoor environments,\u201d \u200cDr. Faisal Khan, director \u200cof \u200bpublic health for Seattle \u200band King County, said in a statement, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattleweekly.com\/news\/uw-study-explores-meth-and-fentanyl-exposure-on-public-transit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seattle Weekly<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen someone uses fentanyl or methamphetamine, the \u200dconcentration \u200dof leftover drug in the air\u200b is minimal,\u201d Khan said. \u201cTherefore,\u200b secondhand exposure to low levels of \u200dresidue in the air \u2063is unlikely to lead to negative \u200bhealth effects.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A University of Washington\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washington.edu\/news\/2023\/09\/07\/uw-assessment-finds-fentanyl-and-methamphetamine-smoke-linger-on-public-transit-vehicles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news release<\/a> Thursday said the study focused on five agencies: King\u200d County\u2063 Metro, Sound \u2063Transit,\u200c Everett Transit and Community Transit, all in Washington, and Tri-Met in the Portland metro area.<\/p>\n<p>The study \u2064collected 78 air samples and 102 surface samples. \u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-man-drives-5-year-old-around-smoking-weed-hands-kid-drugs-unthinkable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Methamphetamine<\/a> was \u2062detected in all of the air samples and 98 percent of the surface samples, according to\u2062 the <a href=\"https:\/\/deohs.washington.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-09\/UW%20exposure%20assessment%20final%20report%20Sept%202023_authors.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/authorities-raid-pharmacies-popular-tourist-destination-americans-buying-fentanyl-laced-meds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fentanyl<\/a> was detected in 25 percent of the \u2062air samples and 46 \u200bpercent of surface samples,\u2064 it said.<\/p>\n<p>The report noted there are\u2064 no \u200c\u201cenforceable state or \u200cfederal regulations exist for methamphetamine \u2064or fentanyl\u200d exposures occurring in a workplace setting.\u201d However, it \u200bsaid, one air sample\u2063 in the study exceeded \u200cthe Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s \u201coccupational exposure guideline\u200d for \u2064fentanyl in the \u200bair,\u201d which \u200cis 0.1 micrograms per cubic meter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust because we can measure\u200c it in the lab does not necessarily mean that it\u2019s\u200c at a level \u2062that poses a health risk to operators \u200bor riders,\u201d researcher Marissa Baker said, according\u2063 to Seattle Weekly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere isn\u2019t a \u200blot of research as to what levels may cause health effects and after how much time, \u200dbut at the\u200b level seen in this study, there \u200dis no clinical evidence\u2064 of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-homeland-security-chief-repeatedly-dodges-about-number-of-haitian-immigrants-released-into-u-s\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Homeland Security Chief Repeatedly Dodges About Number Of Haitian Immigrants Released Into U.S.\">acute medical condition<\/a> that would result from these passive exposures,\u201d she \u2064said.<\/p>\n<p>However, if the combination \u200dof short rides and low levels\u2063 might not mean much to passengers, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/minority-employees-slam-house-dem-plan-to-boost-diversity-at-state-department\/\" title=\"Minority Employees Slam House Dem Plan To Boost Diversity at State Department\">long-term impact<\/a> on drivers is less certain, Baker said in the UW \u200cnews release.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cA work environment that includes drug use and drug smoke can make it harder for \u2064transit operators to safely and effectively \u200cdo their \u200bjobs, regardless of the level \u2064of exposure that \u200doperators may face,\u201d she said. \u201cThis research is\u200c important, as it draws attention to\u2063 the stressors and exposures that these essential workers face.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Marc Beaudreau, a research industrial hygienist in the UW Department\u2062 of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and co-leader of the\u2062 study, said, \u201cOperators are different\u2064 from the\u200d riding public, \u200bbecause operators \u200dare exposed for a much\u200d longer time period.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/study-detects-persistent-fentanyl-meth-in-air-and-on-surfaces-of-public-transit-but-officials-are-totally-chill-about-it\/\" title=\"Study finds fentanyl and meth present in public transit air and surfaces, but officials unconcerned.\">potential\u2063 long-term health effects<\/a> associated with\u2063 daily exposure have not\u200d been adequately \u2062researched, so until these relationships are established, we\u2019re suggesting protective measures that transit agencies could implement to keep operators safe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Baker said the results do not mean there is\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/state-plans-government-sanctioned-injection-sites-evaluate-quality-hard-drugs-allow-users-shoot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">no impact<\/a> at all.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven at a level that is considered \u2018safe,\u2019 it\u200c can still\u2063 be \u2063stressful to see drug use in your workplace,\u201d she said. \u201cTaking steps to protect operators will benefit their physical and\u2063 mental \u200bwell-being at work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/seattle\/2023\/09\/08\/fentanyl-methamphetamine-transit-seattle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Axios<\/a>, King County Metro and Community Transit are using the study as a springboard to \u200dimprove the air filtration system \u200bon buses.<\/p>\n<p>Sound Transit said it will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/police-union-director-arrested-allegedly-distributing-thousands-fentanyl-pills-china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">upgrade security<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo one has\u200c the right to\u2063 violate the law,\u201d\u2063 said Sound\u200b Transit CEO Julie Timm, noting it is illegal to \u200dsmoke or use drugs on the trains.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/study-detects-persistent-fentanyl-meth-air-surfaces-public-transit-officials-totally-chill\/\">Study Detects Persistent Fentanyl, Meth in Air and \u200bon\u200d Surfaces \u2063of Public Transit &#8211; But Officials Are Totally Chill About It<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\">The Western Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A recent study reveals that taking deep breaths on public transit in Seattle or Portland may result in inhaling methamphetamine and second-hand fentanyl. Despite the alarming findings, the University of Washington study suggests that the levels of these substances are relatively low.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":661,"featured_media":2029368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2029366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2029366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2029366"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2029366\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2029368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2029366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2029366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2029366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}