A survey of asbestos abatement projects performed by public agencies was undertaken for the County of Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. The time period for this survey was 1996 to November 1999. Project data collected included project name by public agency, name of contractor, quantity of work, cost for this work, and time period over which work was conducted. Initial information on pro jects was obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and was followed up through contact with the specific agency. Comparison of this sur vey with that of one previous during the time period of 1992-1994 suggests the amount of abatement in the public sector has decreased. Distribution of costs be tween bids was nonnormal and appears to best fit a log arithmic distribution. Some information was not avail able from the agencies, suggesting either a lack of un derstanding of environmental regulations or noncom pliance. Information presented provides an insight into the direction of the asbestos abatement industry, its management, liabilities and future problems.
Lange JH: Cost and distribution of bids for asbestos abatement projects in the public sector. Indoor Built Environ2000;9:201-206.
2.
Lange JH, Thomulka K.: Environmental contracts and specifications: Common issues arising during remediation activities. Fresenius Environ Bull1995;4:137-142.
3.
Lange JH, Kelly DF, Koller KS, Komorek KM, Mamros CT, Mosbacher EM, Polon TM, Thomulka KW: Characteristics of asbestos abatement projects in public buildings in Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA: 1992 - 1994. Indoor Built Environ1996 ;5:76-81.
4.
Lange JH, Thomulka KW: An evaluation of personal airborne asbestos exposure measurements during abatement of drywall and floor tile/mastic. Int J Environ Health Res1999; 10: 5-19.
5.
Environmental Protection Agency: National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations 61, subpart M. Washington, 1999.
6.
Ross M.: The schoolroom asbestos abatement program: A public policy debacle . Environ Geol1995:26:182-188.
7.
Mossman GT, Bignon J., Corn M., Seaton A., Gee Jbl: Asbestos: Scientific developments and implications for public policy . Science1990;247:294-301.
Bateson C.: Results of a survey designed to determine the scientific and economic benefits of asbestos abatement. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J1992;53:381-386.
10.
Lange JH, Kaiser G., Thomulka KW: Environmental site assessments and audits. EnvironManagement1994;18:151-160.
11.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration : Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910 and 1926. Occupational Exposure to Asbestos, Tremolite, Anthophyllite, and Actinolite. Washington, US Department of Labor, 1998.
12.
Environmental Protection Agency: Asbestos-containing materials in schools: Final rule and notice. 40 CFR 763 appendix A to subpart E. Fed Register1987 ;52:41825-41905.
13.
Allegheny County Health Department: Toxic hazardous air pollutants, asbestos abatement. Rules and Regulations, Article XXI, Air Pollution Control, Ordinance Number 16782. Pittsburgh , 1996.
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Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health, Asbestos and Lead Section: Occupations, Accreditation and Certifications Act, Number 1990-194. Harrisburg, Pa., 1991.
15.
Rom WN, Upton A.: Correspondence: Asbestos related diseases. N Engl J Med1989;320:129.
16.
Lange JH: A statistical evaluation of asbestos air concentrations. Indoor Built Environ1999; 8:293-303.
17.
Lange JH, Thomulka KW: Occupational exposure to airborne asbestos during abatement of asbestos-containing pipe and boiler insulation. Fresenius Environ Bull2000;9:477-482.
18.
Lange JH, Thomulka KW: Air sampling during asbestos abatement of floor tile and mastic. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol2000 ;64:497-501.
19.
Lange JH, Lange PR, Reinhard T., Thomulka KW: A study of personal and area airborne asbestos concentrations during asbestos abatement: A statistical evaluation of fibre concentration data. Ann Occup Hyg1996;40:449-466.
20.
Jaffery Samt , Burdett GJ, Rood AP: An investigation of airborne asbestos concentrations in two U.K. buildings: Before, during and after removal of asbestos. Int J Environ Stud1988; 32:169-180.
21.
Massey DG, Fournier-Massey G.: Asbestos removal from buildings: A review. Hawaii Med J1987;46:153-157.
22.
Lange JH, Wade JW, Thomulka KW: Environmental cleanup: A discussion of cost, quality and liability in the asbestos abatement industry. Fresenius Environ Bull1994;3:269-274.
23.
Lange JH, Thomulka KW: Disposal of hazardous waste: Cost and liability issues. Fresenius Environ Bull1995;4:303-308.
24.
Esmen NA: The cost of imprecision: Perspectives in asbestos abatement. Ann NY Acad Sci1991;643:582-588.
25.
US Census Bureau, 1999, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Internet, http://www.census.gov/cgibin/datamap/cnty.
26.
Shapiro SS, Wilk MB: An analysis of variance test for normality. Biometrika1965 ;52:591-611.
27.
Lange JH, Bruce KM, Johnson RL, Phillips MJ, Smith DM, Weidenboemer KM: A survey of lead-based paint abatement projects performed in public building in Erie and Crawford Counties, Pennsylvania, during the time period 1995-1997 . Regul Toxicol Pharmacol1998;28: 73-78.
28.
RS Means Company: RS Means Building Construction Cost Data. Kingston, RS Means Company, 1998.
