Even if you don't have a highly-sensitive nose, you'll probably be able to
notice the smell of meth being cooked.
When manufacture is taking place, there is a deeply-penetrating, toxic,
chemical odor being released. This smoke is not always visible, and
certainly less so when the meth is (typically) cooked at night, but there
is no mistaking the smell.
Think of a chemical fire, plus plastic burning, plus freshly-painted
rooms, brand new carpet, all added together. It will make you squint your
eyes, it may make your nose run, it can make your throat sore, and it is most
definitely a danger to you, your kids, and your pets to be inhaling it.
Our closest non-meth-cooking neighbors were several thousand feet away
across the street, and they smelled the lingering smoke at their houses.
Due to the make-up of the toxins, the smoke also creates a problem when
it settles and leaves a film on nearby things, particularly absorbent materials
like wood, cloth, etc.
There are also health risks to anyone having secondary contact with the
items covered in the film; people washing the cookers' clothes, shaking hands,
touching items that were covered, and so on.
As is always the case, the dealer/user is not at all concerned with the
well-being of those harmed by their selfishness. Our meth-cookers stored
boxes of candy for the local school fundraiser in the shed where the meth
was made. And allowed their children to play in and around the shed.
