This study evaluated costs from 15 different public as bestos abatement projects. Data suggest that costs among (within) project bids are distributed normally, but between bids are nonnormal. Many bids in this study have an outlier and most commonly these represent the highest proposed cost. Outliers had a strong influence on summary data. Cost data, in its summary form, should be provided with and without outliers. Other fac tors beside bid cost are important when selecting the lowest responsible bidder. The information presented here will assist those in environmental management during the process of selecting a contractor.
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.
2.
Lange JH, Thomulka KW: Environmental contracts and specifications: Common issues arising during remediation activities. Fresenius Environ Bull1995;4:137-142.
3.
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.
4.
Health Effects Institute - Asbestos Research : Asbestos in Public and Commercial Buildings: A Literature Review and Snthesis of Current Knowledge. Cambridge, Health Effects Institute, 1991.
5.
Lange JH, Thomulka KW, Lee RJ, Dunmyre GR, Schwerer FC: Surface and deposition sampling in a mechanical room that contains pipe and boiler asbestos insulation. Toxicol Environ Chem1995;50:51-56.
6.
Lange JH, Thomulka KW, Lee RJ, Dunmyre GR: Evaluation of lift and passive sampling methods during asbestos abatement activities. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol1995 ;55:325-331.
7.
Lange JH, Lange PR, Reinhard TK, 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.
8.
Koskinen K., Zitting A., Tossavainen A., Rinne J., Roto P., Kivekas J., Reijula K., Huuskonen MS: Radiographic abnormalities among Finnish construction, shipyard and asbestos industry workers. Scand J Work Environ Health1998;24:109-117.
9.
US Environmental Protection Agency: Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools: Final Rule and Notice. 40 CFR 763 appendix A to subpart E. Federal Register October 30. Washington, 1987, vol 52, pp 41825-41905.
10.
US Environmental Protection Agency: National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations61, subpart M. Washington, 1990.
11.
US Occupational Safety and Health Administration : Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910 and 1926. Washington, US Department of Labor, 1996.
12.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health, Asbestos and Lead Section: Occupations, Accreditation and Certifications Act, No 1990-194. Harrisburg, 1991.
13.
Allegheny County Health Department: Toxic Hazardous Air Pollutants, Asbestos Abatement. Rules and Regulations, Article XXI, Air Pollution Control, Ordinance No 16782. Pittsburgh, 1996.
14.
Weill H., Hughes JM: Asbestos as a public health risk: Disease and policy. Annu Rev Public Health1986;7:171-192.
15.
Selikoff IJ , Hammond EC, Seidman H.: Mortality experience of insulation workers in the United States and Canada: 1943-1976. Ann NY Acad Sci1979;330:91-116.
16.
Walton WH: The nature, hazards and assessment of occupational exposure to airborne asbestos dust: A review. Ann Occup Hyg1982 ; 25:117-247.
17.
Koskinen K. , Zitting A., Tossavainen A., Rinne J., Roto P., Kivekas J., Reijula K., Huuskonen MS: Radiographic abnormalities among Finnish construction, shipyard and asbestos industry workers . Scand J Work Environ Health1998;24:109-117.
18.
Ross M.: The schoolroom asbestos abatement program: A public policy debacle . Environ Geol1995;26:182-188.
Mossman BT, Bignon J., Corn M., Seaton A., Gee Jbl: Asbestos: Scientific developments and implications for public policy . Science1990;247:294-301.
21.
Oliver LC, Sprice NL, Greene R.: Asbestos related disease in public school custodians. Am J Ind Med1991;19:303-316.
22.
Garcia-Closas M., Christiani DC: Asbestos-related diseases in construction carpenters. Am J Ind Med1995;27:115-125.
23.
Massey DG, Fournier-Massey G.: Asbestos removal from buildings: A review. Hawaii Med J1987;46:153-157.
24.
Jaffrey Samt , Burdett GJ, Rood AP: An investigation of airborne asbestos concentrations in 2 U.K. buildings: Before, during and after removal of asbestos. Int J Environ Stud1988;32:169-180.
25.
Bozzelli JW , Russell JF: Airborne asbestos levels in several school buildings. Int J Environ Stud1982;20:27-30.
26.
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.
27.
Esmen NA: The cost of imprecision: Perspectives in asbestos abatement. Ann NY Acad Sci1991;643:582-588.
28.
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.
29.
Ogunlana S. , Thorpe A.: The nature of estimating accuracy: Developing correct associations. Building Environ1991 ;26:77-86.
30.
Timko J., Downie J.: Statistics on Software. Culver City, Software Labs, 1992.
31.
Shapiro SS, Wilk MB: An analysis of variance test for normality. Biometrika1965 ;52:591-611.
32.
Taylor JK: Statistical Techniques for Data Analysis. Boca Raton, Lewis, 1990.
33.
Lange JH, Kaiser G., Thomulka KW: Environmental site assessments and audits. EnvironManagement1994; 18:151-160.
34.
Mlynarek S. , Corn M., Blake C.: Asbestos exposure of building maintenance personnel. Regul ToxicolPharmacol1996;23:213-224.
35.
Lange JH: A statistical evaluation of asbestos air concentrations. Indoor Built Environ1999; 8:293-303.
36.
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.
37.
Lange JH, Thomulka KW: Disposal of hazardous waste: Cost and liability issues. Fresenius Environ Bull1995;4:303-308.
38.
Lange JH: Abatement contract specification documents: A discussion of issues. J PaAcad Sci1992;66:97-102.
39.
RS Means Company: RS Means Building Construction Cost Data. Kingston, RS Means Company, 1998.
