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BACKGROUND: After the passage of medical marijuana legislation in Colorado allowing limited cultivation of medicinal marijuana, law enforcement became inundated by the sheer number of illegal indoor marijuana grow operations (IMGOs). Law enforcement officials were concerned about the potential exposures to their officers and decided to undertake exposure research to determine the potential health effects and appropriate protective measures.
METHODS: A total of 30 IMGOs were entered at the time of law enforcement intervention. Samples collected were for: mold/fungi (viable, non-viable, settled dust via mold specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MSQPCR), air samples (MSQPCR), and temperature/relative humidity), combustion effluents (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides), pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (wipe and air samples). Some IMGOs were determined to be illegal, and were dismantled (tear-out process). Additional samples were collected at the time of plant removal. All samples were analyzed by AIHA accredited laboratories.
RESULTS: The IMGOs sampled in this study did not have significant exposure concerns from combustion sources, pesticides, or THC. The biggest exposure concern was mold. Colony or spore counts were considered increased when indoor levels were at least ten-fold higher than outdoor results. Total viable mold colony counts were increased in 20% of IMGOs, non-viable total spore counts were increased in 17% of IMGOs. Penicillium species colony counts were increased in 57% of IMGOs and Aspergillus/Penicillium type spores were increased in 53% of IMGOs. Airborne levels of penicillium increased in IMGOs with tear-out with viable colony counts averaging 10-fold higher versus initial samples, and spore counts averaging 77-fold higher.
CONCLUSIONS: Combustion effluents were not a significant exposure issue in these IMGOs. In addition, pesticide use was very limited. There was a potential for irritation symptoms from VOCs. THC was detected on most surfaces sampled in IMGOs. Mold was the biggest exposure concern in these IMGOs. Respiratory protection, gloves, and protective clothing were recommended as an important practice for law enforcement investigators, especially during tear-out activities.