Can you die from exposure to the waste products of meth synthesis?

[Washoe]

My sister’s second husband was/is a commissioned Ranger with the US National Park Service. Sometime back in the early 90’s, we were discussing the issue of meth synthesis and the problems attendant with the biker gangs operating their labs on federal recreational lands. He told me that the waste products from meth synthesis are so toxic that you can die from unprotected contact with them. His exact words were “Rangers who are being exposed to this shit are dying five years later from its toxic effects.” I’ve been trying to find out more about this subject ever since that conversation, but I can’t find any reliable information on the subject. Is it really true? If so, how does it cause death?

[Q.E.D]

Exaggeration.

http://www.ohsonline.com/articles/45087/

Health Effects for First Responders
Several studies involving law enforcement personnel responding to and investigating clandestine laboratories have shown significant evidence of adverse short- and long-term health effects. Primary effects are to the respiratory system.

A study published in 2001 in Clinical Toxicology details the first documented case of symptomatic occupational phosphine exposure in a law enforcement official. This case involved a 28-year-old forensic scientist exposed to phosphine during an investigation of a methamphetamine lab while not wearing respiratory protection. Estimated exposure concentration was 2.7 ppm for 20-30 minutes. The subject developed initial symptoms of dizziness, dry cough, headache, and diarrhea. She was examined within 90 minutes of exposure and released. One week later, she developed a chronic cough that increased during exertion, did not respond to treatment, and lasted nine months.

In another study of chronic health effects in 40 drug lab investigators during a seven-year period, researchers found decreased lung capacity in many of the investigators exposed to toxic chemicals that was more pronounced in investigators who tended not to wear respiratory protection.

Nothing about anyone dying as a result of exposure.

[Broomstick]

If anything, those cases are a good argument for wearing respiratory protection.

I suppose if you had the right combination of freak circumstances and sensitive individual you could have someone die from exposure, but I haven’t been able to find any actual instances of deaths from it.

Not that a long-term chronic health problem is OK or something you’d want to experience.