"Rotting drugs" in police storage unit destroy cops' lungs.

There are many ways this stuff can harm you... this is one of them.

Quote :

One police officer is in a coma and another has lost almost 30 per cent of his lung capacity after being exposed to fumes from rotting drugs inside a police storage unit.

The NSW Police Force is now facing serious claims it failed to offer basic protection to the officers who had the task of handling degraded drug exhibits up to 13 years old.

Sergeant Nader "Ralph" Hanna, 46, and Detective Senior Constable Andrew McGrath, 38, were both exposed to the strong fumes when moving a bag containing the ecstasy precursor safrole in the state's biggest crime evidence locker.

The officers were among three directed in February to carry out a "drug audit" on items in evidence storage still required for court proceedings.

They claimed the "drug room" had a constant strong chemical smell and they did not have protective gear or training in handling chemicals.

On March 18, the pair were moving drug bags when Sen Constable McGrath noticed a degraded bag had broken, spilling a liquid on to his hands.

Sen Constable McGrath said he experienced a strong burning sensation in his throat.

Sgt Hanna, who is usually attached to the forensic services group, suffered a second exposure to drug fumes from a bag of cocaine the following week.

His breathing problems worsened to the point he was coughing constantly and bringing up blood.

He was rushed to Nepean Hospital last Monday with collapsed lungs and is in an induced coma, with machines helping him to breathe.

The NSW Police Association said doctors had been puzzled by Sgt Hanna's lung damage as he is a non-smoker with no history of respiratory illness.

A week before his admission to hospital doctors told Sgt Hanna after a lung capacity test that he had the lungs of an 80-year-old suffering emphysema. His prognosis is unclear.

Medical tests sought by Sen Constable McGrath revealed his lung capacity has been reduced by almost 30 per cent.

Ugh. Those poor guys. I wonder what happened to the third police officer....

And yet there are people out there who still refuse to believe that drugs are bad for you.
You'd think that someone would have at least asked "Hey, isn't this stuff dangerous?"

...I can't believe I hadn't thought of drugs having a use-by date before. o_o

Been there, done that. I got a lung infection within my first couple of months on the job (Works in the P&E room for the Memphis PD)

Raine wrote:

...I can't believe I hadn't thought of drugs having a use-by date before. o_o

Same here.

grmblfjx wrote:

Raine wrote:

...I can't believe I hadn't thought of drugs having a use-by date before. o_o

Same here.

I had some weed that went mouldy once.

I suppose on some level I knew that leaving chemicals just lying around would lead to bad things, but this... Blimey.

Ok, I must be extra tired this morning, because I had to read this line a couple times:

Quote :

The NSW Police Force is now facing serious claims it failed to offer basic protection to the officers who had the task of handling degraded drug exhibits up to 13 years old.

I kept thinking to myself, "Well, it's Not Safe For Work. Duh." ><