FYI

[lswot]

A Friend of mine in Arizona sent me the following. He works for HazMat unit in Phoenix.

Operations Manager
Maricopa County Dept. of Emergency Management

Title: Propane Tank Alert

DATE: June 2008

ACTIVITY CODE:01.129 FF Safety: Firefighter Safety / ISO

Propane Tanks after Meth Lab Use! Be Alert for this.

Meth cooks are getting propane tanks from the exchanges at Wal-Mart,
Kroger, gas stations, etc. and emptying them of the propane. They are filling
them with anhydrous ammonia (which is used in their meth recipe). After
they are finished with them, they return them to the store.

They are then refilled with propane and sent back for you and me to
buy. Anhydrous ammonia is very corrosive and weakens the structure of the
tank. It can be extremely dangerous when mixed with propane and hooked up to
our grills, etc.

You should inspect the propane tank for any blue or greenish residue
around the valve areas. If it is present, refuse to purchase that one.' If you
suspect you already have one of these tanks, don't touch it. Notify the
fire dept, DEA, or HazMat Emergency Response Unit immediately for
disposition.

Check out the following website for more details. They also
Have pictures showing what contaminated tank valve might look like.
Keep and fill your own propane tanks...

http://www.npga.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=529
>

[AnneB]

I told my husband about this, but shouldn't the stores be checking for this?

[Xjmt]

I told my husband about this, but shouldn't the stores be checking for this?

My sentiments, exactly!

[brian]

I thought this would be one that Snopes could debunk for us, but the jury's still out:

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/methtank.asp

[lswot]

Meth cooks are getting propane tanks from the exchanges at Wal-Mart,
Kroger, gas stations, etc. and emptying them of the propane. They are filling
them with anhydrous ammonia (which is used in their meth recipe).
After they are finished with them, they return them to the store.

[AnneB]

I understand what you are saying, lswot. But if we, the consumers, can check the valve for residue, the stores that receive used tanks should be doing that first.

[lswot]

I understand what you are saying, lswot. But if we, the consumers, can check the valve for residue, the stores that receive used tanks should be doing that first.

Well, yeah....one would think.....but, buyer beware and all that.

[trucker2000]

Oh my. First, I have to watch for people with certain colored cloths. Then, it's certain colored cloths with certain types of tattoos. Then, it's certain types of clothes, certain types of tattoos, and certain types of cars. Now, I have to watch out for propane bottles.
Just kidding. Hope they can find a way to stop it.

[lswot]

We all have our 'foibles' to bear........

[Xjmt]

We all have our 'foibles' to bear........

If I told you once I must have told you a hundered times, stop picking on Henry!

[lswot]

If I told you once I must have told you a hundered times, stop picking on Henry!

Yeah, right!

[Henry J]

Picky, picky, picky!

[trucker2000]

For some odd reason, dont ask me why, I've been thinking about this one.
First: anhydrous ammonia isn't easy for a consumer to get/
Second: Someone would have to Fill those propane bottles with a special pump.
Third: It wouldn't happen. I think the alert was a hoax. I've never even heard of anyone using anhydrous ammonia in drug making. It's usually paint thinner, crushed glass, baby powder, and such. (just kidding about the baby powder.)

[lswot]

Well, got it from a reliable source. But.....who knows?

[brian]

For some odd reason, dont ask me why, I've been thinking about this one.
[...]
anhydrous ammonia isn't easy for a consumer to get
[...]
I've never even heard of anyone using anhydrous ammonia in drug making

According to the Snopes article (http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/methtank.asp), those assertions are incorrect. (Read the second paragraph under "Origins". They don't allow cut-n-paste.)

But they don't go as far as to say the threat is real.