Forensic Scientists Exposed to Small Amounts of Illicit Drugs, NIOSH Finds

Forensic scientists working in a police department crime laboratory were exposed to small but detectable amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, according to a health hazard evaluation (HHE) report recently published by NIOSH. Although one scientist was overexposed to fentanyl in air based on an occupational exposure limit set by ACGIH, NIOSH found no evidence that exposures to illicit drugs affected the health of any crime lab employees. “However, following sound occupational health practice, we recommend reducing workplace exposures to illicit drugs to as low as possible,” the report states.

Agency staff visited the crime lab in May and July 2024. During the first two days of personal air sampling, one forensic scientist out of the six who participated in the evaluation was determined to have a full-shift time-weighted average exposure of 0.15 micrograms of fentanyl per cubic meter of air, exceeding ACGIH’s OEL of 0.1 µg/m3 for the substance. Fentanyl was also detected in 11 out of 15 samples taken from lab surfaces in levels below ACGIH’s surface OEL of 1 µg/m3. Cocaine was detected in scientists’ personal air and hand wipe samples, in addition to all 20 surface samples collected within and outside the lab. Heroin was also found on some lab surfaces. Methamphetamine, one of the most frequently handled substances in the crime lab, was detected in personal air, hand wipe, and surface samples. It was also found in urine samples provided by three employees at levels well below clinical or forensic drug testing thresholds. No OELs have been established for cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine, NIOSH’s report notes.

NIOSH recommends that management work to improve the crime lab’s ventilation, such as by ensuring that laboratory or benchtop hoods meet the specifications of ANSI/ASSP Z9.5-2022, Laboratory Ventilation. The agency also urges lab management to work with law enforcement to address the consistent packaging of evidence, as well as with the courts to reduce policies requiring forensic scientists to take net weights, a task that involves weighing material without packaging. Surfaces within and outside the lab should be regularly cleaned, and employees should wash their hands before eating, drinking, smoking, or leaving the lab for the day. The NIOSH report recommends that management provide N95 or P100 respirators to scientists for use when handling bulk samples, with appropriate fit testing. Other recommendations described in the agency’s report include providing annual training to help employees understand best practices to prevent illicit substance exposures and improving communication on health and safety matters with employees.

A PDF of the report may be downloaded from NIOSH’s HHE library.