Life Cycle Assessment as Part of Sustainability Assessment for Chemicals (5 pp)

Background LCA is the only internationally standardized environmental assessment tool (ISO 14040-43) for product systems, including services and processes. The analysis is done ‘from cradle-to-grave’, i.e. over the whole life cycle. LCA is essentially a comparative method: different systems fulfilling the same function (serving the same purpose) are compared on the basis of a ‘functional unit’ - a quantitative measure of this function or purpose. It is often believed that LCA can be used for judging the (relative) sustainability of product systems. This is only partly true, however, since LCA is restricted to the environmental part of the triad ‘environment/ecology - economy - social aspects (including intergenerational fairness)’ which constitutes sustainability. Standardized assessment tools for the second and the third part are still lacking, but Life Cycle Costing (LCC) seems to be a promising candidate for the economic part. Social Life Cycle Assessment still has to be developed on the basis of known social indicators.Method and Limitations LCA is most frequently used for the comparative assessment or optimization analysis of final products. Materials and chemicals are difficult to analyse from cradle-to-grave, since they are used in many, often innumerable product systems, which all would have to be studied in detail to give a complete LCA of a particular material or substance! This complete analysis of a material or chemical is evidently only possible in such cases where one main application exists. But even if one main application does exist, e.g. in the case of surfactants (chemicals) and detergents (final products), the latter may exist in a great abundance of compositions. Therefore, chemicals and materials are better analysed ‘from cradle-to-factory gate’, leaving the analysis of the final product(s), the use phase and the ‘end-of-life’ phases to specific, full LCAs.Conclusion A comparative assessment of production processes is possible, if the chemicals (the same is true for materials) produced by different methods have exactly the same properties. In this case, the downstream phases may be considered as a ‘black box’ and left out of the assessment. Such truncated LCAs can be used for environmental comparisons, but less so for the (environmental) optimization analysis of a specific chemical: the phases considered as ‘black box’ and left out may actually be the dominant ones. A sustainability assessment should be performed at the product level and contain the results of LCC and social assessments. Equal and consistent system boundaries will have to be used for these life cycle tools which only together can fulfil the aim of assessing the sustainability of product systems.     

从LCA角度评价塑料用品与木制用品对环境的影响

通过对一次性塑料与纸制用品（木制品）的评价研究的基础上，对木制品与塑料制品从生命周期评价（LCA）的角度上对问题作进一步的探讨和研究，得出结论为塑料制品为环保型产品。     

LCA of tomato greenhouse production using spatially differentiated life cycle impact assessment indicators: an Albanian case study

The increasing attention to agricultural exports and sustainability issues is driving a surge of interest in the life cycle assessment (LCAs) of greenhouse crop production in Albania. Meanwhile, most of the reported agricultural LCAs tend to be generic without considering regionalized environmental sensitivities. In this study, ReCiPe 2016, covering 18 midpoint indicators and 3 endpoint indicators was used to generate a full-fledged cradle-to-farm gate LCA of greenhouse tomatoes in a typical Albanian farm including spatial differentiation and indicators not covered by contemporary LCAs. The most important midpoint categories per 1 ha identified from foreground–background analysis were global warming (2660.4 kg CO2-eq), stratospheric ozone depletion (0.0308 kg CFC11-eq), particulate matter formation (7.99 kg PM2.5-eq), human health and ecosystem ozone formation (8.47 and 14.95 kg NOx-eq), water consumption (2293.23 m3), and terrestrial acidification (42.28 kg SO2-eq). The application of spatial differentiation resulted in higher impacts with about 21% for particulate matter formation, 12% for human health ozone formation, 134% for ecosystem ozone formation, 19% for terrestrial acidification, and 13% for water consumption. The impacts primarily originated from nitrogen-based fertilizer emissions and diesel fuel with the origin of the impact from nitrous oxide (N2O), ammonia volatilization (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). Water consumption was dominated by irrigation water use. Overall, at the endpoint level, 9% and 24% less cumulative damage to human health and ecosystem quality were calculated with respect to the site-generic analysis primarily from the cause-and-effect chain of water consumption (mainly lower water stress index). This affirms the importance of regional considerations in LCA calculations to reflect the impacts accordingly (i.e., the magnitude of impacts, the most relevant midpoint categories, and their relevance on endpoint level) and increase the possibility of making correct conclusions and sub-optimizations, i.e., increase the discriminating power of LCA.     

Environmental impact assessment (EIA): Equilibrium fugacity calculations and worst case approach

A mathematical model UNITRISK which can be used for screening purposes and risk ranking was set up to calculate relative risk values of single chemicals and mixtures of chemicals towards single or mixtures of organisms via contamination of air, water, soil and food dose. The concentration values are calculated by applying the fugacity concept or a dose must be defined. The dose-response is assumed to be linear versus concentration and degradative processes are not considered which is the worst case. The assumption that equilibria between the environmental phases exist is simplifying the model and is also representing the worst case. A mean risk factor is calculated which is 1 if the endpoint values (LC₅₀, LD₅₀, ADI, etc.) are exceeded for the investigated organisms and man.     

城市生活垃圾管理生命周期分析研究

概述了生命周期评价方法、内容及框架,并将其引入城市生活垃圾管理系统中,对城市生活垃圾管理进行了生命周期可行性分析,提出了开展城市生活垃圾生命周期管理的具体实施措施。     

Terrestrial ecotoxicity and effect factors of metals in life cycle assessment (LCA)

Life cycle impact assessment aims to translate the amounts of substance emitted during the life cycle of a product into a potential impact on the environment, which includes terrestrial ecosystems. This work suggests some possible improvements in assessing the toxicity of metals on soil ecosystems in life cycle assessment (LCA). The current available data on soil ecotoxicity allow one to calculate the chronic terrestrial HC50(EC50) (hazardous concentration affecting 50% of the species at their EC50 level, i.e. the level where 50% of the individuals of the species are affected) of nine metals and metalloids (As(III) or (V), Be(II), Cr(III) or (VI), Sb(III) or (V), Pb(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II)). Contrarily to what is generally advised in LCIA, the terrestrial HC50 of metals shall not be extrapolated from the aquatic HC50, using the Equilibrium Partitioning method since the partition coefficient (K(d)) of metals is highly variable. The experimental ecotoxicology generally uses metallic salts to contaminate artificial soils but the comparison of the EC50 or NOEC obtained for the same metal with different salts reveals that the kind of salt used insignificantly influences these values. In contrast, depending on the metallic fraction of concern, the EC50 may vary, as for cadmium: the EC50 of Folsomia candida, expressed as free Cd in pore water is almost 2.5 orders of magnitude lower than that expressed as total metal. A similar result is obtained with Eisenia fetida, confirming the importance of metals speciation in assessing their impact on soils. By ranking the metals according to the difference between their terrestrial and aquatic HC50 values, two groups are distinguished, which match the hard soft acids and bases (HSAB) concept. This allows to estimate their affinity for soil components and potential toxicity according to their chemical characteristics.     

Life Cycle Assessment of Fuel Selection for Power Generation in Taiwan

Abstract

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was applied to performance data from 1997–2002 to evaluate the environmental impacts of the energy input, airborne emission, waterborne emission, and solid waste inventories for Taiwan’s electric power plants. Eco-indicator 95 was used to compare the differences among the generation processes and fuel purification. To better understand the environmental trends related to Taiwan’s electric power industry, three fuel scenarios were selected for LCA system analysis. Results indicate that there are differences in characteristic environmental impact among the 13 power plants. Scenario simulation provided a basis for minimizing environmental impacts from fuel selection targets. Fuel selection priority should be a gas-fired combined cycle substituted for a coal-fired steam turbine to be more environmentally friendly, particularly in the areas of the greenhouse effect, acidification, winter smog, and solid waste. Furthermore, based purely on economic and environmental criteria, it is recommended that the gas-fired combined cycle be substituted for the oil-fired steam turbine.     

Environmental information system for visualizing environmental impact assessment information

The Institute of Environmental Engineering at the University of Pannonia has undertaken the challenge to develop an online environmental information system. This system is able to receive and process the collected environmental data via Internet. The authors have attached importance to the presentation of the data and have included other comprehensible information for laymen as well in order to work out visualisation techniques that are expressive and attract attention for environmental questions through the developed information system. The ways of visualizing physical and chemical parameters of surface water and the effects of motorway construction were examined.     

北京市生活垃圾处理的环境影响评价

目前北京市生活垃圾产生量不断增加,处理设施能力日渐不足,生活垃圾管理正面临着减量化与资源化必然趋势。在未来5～10年内,堆肥处理、焚烧处理和综合处理等方式将取代卫生填埋成为北京市垃圾处理的主要方式。本研究采用生命周期评价的方法,对北京市4处垃圾处理设施采用的不同工艺（卫生填埋、好氧堆肥、焚烧处理和综合处理）的环境影响进行比较。评价结果表明4,种处理方式中填埋、堆肥、焚烧和综合处理的环境影响负荷分别为4.82×10-2、1.10×10-21、.31×10-1和2.31×10-2,焚烧处理的总环境影响潜值最大,填埋处理次之,综合处理再次,堆肥处理最小。4种处理方式的资源耗竭系数分别为-2.39×10-51、.11×10-5、-3.45×10-4和-1.04×10-6,焚烧处理的资源耗竭系数最小。     

城市规划的环境影响评价研究初探

环境影响评价法的颁布是中国环境影响评价的一个新阶段。中国至今尚无明确的、系统的规划环境影响评价的技术导则和规范,其评价理论仍在探索之中。分析了国内外规划环境影响评价的历史和现状。从区域环境影响评价的实践经验总结出了城市规划环境影响评价应强调城市发展的可持续性。探讨了该层次评价的介入时间、评价原则、环境影响因素识别及评价内容,提出从生态合理性、绿色化程度等方面考虑城市规划的生态环境影响。     

Environmental life cycle assessment (E-LCA) and social impact assessment (SIA) of small-scale biorefineries implemented in rural zones: the avocado (Persea Americana var. Americana) case in Colombia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The objective of this study is to compare the environmental and social performance of two small-scale avocado biorefineries implanted in a rural zone...     

激光类全新耗材和再生耗材对环境影响的生命周期评价

以激光类打印耗材——TN350为例,应用生命周期评价方法,对全新TN350和再生TN350进行生命周期资源消耗与污染物排放清单分析,在此基础上进行生命周期环境影响评价。重点考虑6种环境影响类型：全球变暖、酸化、富营养化、光化学臭氧、固体废弃物、工业烟尘和粉尘。结果表明,相对于全新TN350,再生TN350的原油消耗量削...     

战略环境影响评价与可持续发展探讨

概述了战略环境影响评价的概念、发展由来，及可持续发展的内涵和指标体系，分析了两者之间的相互关系，强调了战略环境影响评价是达到可持续发展的中心环节，以及可持续发展对战略环境影响评价的指导作用。     

Life cycle assessment of environmental impact on municipal solid waste incineration power generation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration power generation is an important treatment technology, which has been widely concerned in recent years. It is...     

脱硫灰处理生命周期环境影响评价

随着半干法烟气脱硫技术的普及,其副产物脱硫灰的产量亦日益增加.大量堆存的脱硫灰导致了土地占用、环境污染等问题.氧化和填埋是半干法烟气脱硫灰主要的处理方式,采用生命周期评价(LCA)理论,对脱硫灰氧化和填埋处理进行清单分析,定量评价两种处理方式产生的环境影响和经济效益.结果表明,填埋处理环境代价虽低于脱硫灰氧化处理,但综...