Life cycle assessment for printed newspapers in Northwestern Mexico

This paper aims to present the relevant results of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study conducted on printed matter under a sheet-fed offset printing process by a company located in northwestern Mexico. Different scenarios were simulated in order to support decisions related to the improvement of environmental performance along the production processes. The study design was based on the European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment (EPLCA), which is in line with the ISO 14040 and 14044:2006 standards on LCA. The scope of the study was cradle-to-gate, with emphasis on the production of printed matter. The method chosen for the impact assessment was Impact 2002+ with a combined midpoint–damage approach. The results of the study showed that the major contributors to adverse effects were, primarily electricity consumption followed by paper consumption during the printing operation, as well as consumption of ink to a small degree. As for the plate-making operation along with the generation of secondary products, the result was negative. This is essentially due to involvement of recyclable materials, thus contributing to the prevention of raw material extraction. The smallest impact was observed from processes involving cleaning products and LP gas. The main issues of concern stemming from the results are electricity consumption and printing – both activities dominate almost all the midpoint categories. Generation of secondary products also had a relative environmental impact along the supply chain. Cleaning agents and LP gas did not have a significant impact on the final results of the process.     

New insights into the determinants of the total fertility rate,infant mortality rate and life expectancy

SUMMARY

Data on 127 countries from the World Development Report (1993) are examined with respect to associations between the total fertility rate (TFR), infant mortality rate, life expectancy, female primary education, GNP and domestic water supply. A marked negative association between quantity of domestic water and the total fertility rate, independent of infant mortality, GNP and women's education, was found. However, water was not significantly associated with infant mortality, after controlling for CNP, female education and TFR. Further research at the micro- (community and individual) and macro-level is suggested to understand why and how water plays such an important role in TFR. At the same time, development policies and programmes need to give high priority to the domestic water supply at community as well as national levels.     

Assessment of the effect of welding fumes on welders’ cognitive failure and health-related quality of life

Introduction. This study examined whether cognitive symptoms and health-related quality of life can be affected by welding fume exposure. Method. Participants consisted of welders (n?=?40) and welder assistants (n?=?25) from welding units as the exposed group, and office workers (n?=?44) as the non-exposed group. All participants were studied using ambient air monitoring and two types of questionnaires: the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results. Welders and welder assistants were exposed to higher concentrations of all airborne metals than office employees, except for aluminum and chromium (p?p?M (SD)?=?54.84 (17.88)). The relationships between total CFQ score and the measured concentration of nickel at peak work rate was significant for welders. Conclusion. Cognitive symptoms and health-related quality of life were not related to the measures of welding fume exposure and further research should be performed to find other influencing factors.     

LPCVD法制备TiO_2纳米薄膜的生命周期评价

针对纳米材料生产的高能耗、低生产率的特点,用生命周期评价(LCA)方法对纳米TiO_2薄膜生产过程进行了环境影响评价,并通过设置不同的低压化学气相沉积过程(LPCVD)工艺参数,研究了工艺参数中温度和压强对于TiO_2薄膜评价结果的影响。研究显示,纳米TiO_2薄膜生产阶段的环境表现受LPCVD过程工艺参数影响,评价结果可用于指导LPCVD工艺优化。     

考虑区域特点和车型差异的氢燃料电池汽车全生命周期减碳预测分析

发展氢燃料电池汽车是我国实现“双碳”战略的重要路径之一,目前我国多个区域正在推广应用包括乘用车、客车以及重卡在内的氢燃料电池汽车,如何量化研究未来不同车型和不同区域的氢燃料电池汽车减碳潜力成为如今的研究热点之一.基于全生命周期的评价方法,考虑了未来的汽车燃油经济性、电力碳排放因子、氢能碳排放因子和氢燃料电池汽车推广规模及制氢方式的区域差异,量化评价了不同类型的氢燃料电池汽车（FCV）、传统燃油汽车（ICEV）和纯电动汽车（BEV）的全生命周期碳排放量（以CO₂当量计）,对比分析了氢燃料电池汽车在不同时间及不同区域的减碳潜力,并对百公里氢耗量进行了不确定性分析.结果发现,到2025年氢燃料电池客车的全生命周期碳排放比传统燃油客车降低36.0%,而氢燃料电池重卡相较于传统燃油重卡并没有减碳效益.随着未来我国氢能来源结构的不断优化,到2035年氢燃料电池重卡的全生命周期碳排放比传统燃油重卡降低36.5%,相较于乘用车和客车两种车型,其减碳效益是最明显的.以2035年京津冀示范群为例,随着百公里氢耗量降低20%,FCV乘用车、客车和重卡的减碳规模分别增加了7.29%、9.93%和19.57%.因此建议氢燃料电池汽车推广应短期以客车为主,长期以重卡为主,乘用车推广作为补充.分区域和分阶段推广氢燃料电池汽车更有助于推进我国汽车领域的低碳化进程.     

电动重卡替代柴油重卡的全生命周期碳减排效益分析

为精准预测电动重卡替代柴油重卡的全生命周期碳减排效益,以单辆重卡为对象,通过预测2023~2050年的电力和柴油碳排放因子变化特性,耦合两类重卡寿命及生命周期行驶里程,分阶段构建了重卡动态碳排放模型,深入分析了“2050年净零排放（NZE）情景”、“承诺目标（APS）情景”和“既定政策（STEPS）情景”下两类重卡的碳排放足迹,并计算碳减排量和碳减排率.结果表明,电池生产和电池回收是分别导致电动重卡生产阶段和拆解回收阶段碳减排效益不佳的重要因素.电力碳排放因子（以CO₂计）每降低1 g·（kW·h）^-1,电动重卡全生命周期碳排放可减少1.74 t.3种情景下,两类重卡运行阶段碳排放均占全生命周期碳排放总量的90%以上.碳减排效益由高到低的情景依次为NZE、APS和STEPS,其对应的全生命周期碳减排量分别为1 054.68、1 021.78和1 007.97 t,碳减排率分别为54.38%、52.68%和51.97%.     

考虑既有建筑最不利方向的抗震能力评估方法

主要研究在役结构的抗震性能评估方法。首先,在前人研究的基础上,给出了在役结构的力学模型;其次,通过对2次小震的动力时程分析,得出结构的最不利方向,并在此方向上利用三维分析程序CANNY 99,对结构进行Pushover分析,将得出的结构能力曲线与由实际地震波得到的需求谱叠合,求出结构性能点,进而评估结构的抗震性能。通过一算例具体说明该方法的应用步骤,并由程序输出结构在到达性能点时的梁柱破坏情况。本文从钢筋锈蚀和混凝土老化这两个方面考虑使用年限对结构的影响;同时,从结构的最不利方向对结构进行Pushover分析,考虑了结构在地震作用下柱子双向受弯的特点,更加符合实际情况。     

浅谈生命周期评价与应用

本文介绍了生命周期评价的发展历史、定义、技术框架及主要内容,提出将生命周期评价应用于环境管理的良好前景。     

生命周期评价综论

生命周期评价已被纳入到ISO14000环境管理体系中,将成为本世纪最有效的环境管理工具之一。通过综述生命周期评价的概念、起源和发展、技术框架及其应用,指出了当前生命周期评价的方法论和实践上存在的局限性,并对未来发展方向作了展望。