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Paradigm for Substance Flow Analyses
Summary
The present paradigm for substance flow analyses provides a general framework for Substance Flow Analysis (SFAs) carried out for the Danish EPA. The first part includes a general description of principles and procedures as regards the use of substance balances, uncertainty, detail and reliability, cross-checks, literature, statistics, etc. The second part provides a general outline of SFAs, with a detailed description chapter for chapter. The paradigm is intended to be used by the Danish EPA as basis for new SFAs carried out by both new and more experienced project holders.
Background and Objectives
The aim of the present paradigm for substance flow analyses is to
provide a general framework for Substance Flow Analysis (SFAs) carried out
for the Danish EPA.
The paradigm is an updated and revised version of a previous paradigm from
1993. The first paradigm was developed to ensure uniformity and
comparability of SFAs carried out for hazardous chemical substances under
the Danish EPA´s framework programme on hazardous substances in waste.
In Denmark today, SFA is taken to be a standard tool in the process of identifying important sources for release of hazardous substances to the environment and the first paradigm has been used for a range of SFAs. The report provides a list of SFAs of more than 30 substances or substance groups carried out in Denmark during twenty years.
A SFA will typically be initiated for substances, which have been identified as actual or potential hazardous to humans or the environment. The outcome of the SFA will in combination with an assessment of environmental and health effects form the fundament for considerations by the Danish EPA as regards the need and instruments for risk minimisation for the substance in question.
The experience with the SFAs carried out until now is that there often has been a need for focusing the analyses on specific parts of the substance flow or extending the analyses to include other aspects related to the use of the substance. A main objective of this update of the paradigm has been to include such focusing end extensions into the main framework of the analyses.
The report is intended to be used by the Danish EPA as basis for new SFAs carried out by both new and more experienced project holders. In addition the paradigm hopefully may also serve as inspiration for authorities and researchers out of Denmark.
This Investigation
This investigation is an update of a paradigm for SFA developed by Erik Hansen and Hanne Boisen for the Danish EPA in 1993. The revision of the paradigm has been carried out in 1999-2000 by Erik Hansen and Carsten Lassen, COWI Consulting Engineers and Planners AS, for the Danish EPA. The work has been reviewed by a steering committee with representatives from The Danish EPA and COWI. Productive comments have in addition been offered by Esther van der Voet, Leiden University.
Principles and Procedures
The first part of the paradigm provides general guidelines as regards principles and procedures for carrying out SFAs. With inspiration from internationally agreed framework for Life Cycle Assessments, it has been proposed that a SFA consists of three steps:
 | Goal and system definitions |
| Inventory and modelling |
| Interpretation of the results |
The overall goal of the analyses covered by this paradigm is to provide a comprehensive view of the flow of the substance in question through the Danish society forming the fundament for considerations as regards the need and instruments for risk minimisation for the substance. To meet the overall goal, the SFAs include determination of the main sources of discharges to the environment in Denmark (including losses to waste deposits, etc.) and explanations about what uses of the chemical substance cause these discharges.
In the paradigm is distinguished between what is designated the 'core SFA' and a number of optional extensions. The 'core SFA' includes an analysis of the total flow of a substance or a group of substances through the Danish society during one year. In the extensions the system boundaries are expanded either in space or time e.g. covering the monitoring data of the substance in different environmental compartments.
The SFA is based on the principle of substance balance:
Input + formation = output + degradation + accumulation
The substance balances can be made more or less complex depending on the desired level of detail. In fact, SFAs consist of the systematic use of such substance balances to describe a larger system. The substance balances can be used to describe a static situation by simple bookkeeping or be build into more complex modelling of chances in the balances, which can be used to describe the dynamic of the system and forecast future situations.
Undertaking a SFA in many ways resemble doing a jigsaw puzzles. The best way to prove that the jigsaw puzzle has been completed correctly is to make certain, that all pieces fit together. Assessment of data reliability and cross-checking of information and estimates are very important elements in the process, as all data will be more or less uncertain. This first part of the paradigm provides detailed recommendations as regards data quality assessment, dealing with uncertainty, balancing and crosschecking of estimates, literature and statistics.
The General Outline
In the aim of ensuring the uniformity and comparability of the SFAs carried out at a national level in Denmark, the paradigm prescribe a common outline of all SFAs. The main outline is shown in box 1.
Box 1
Main structure of the outline
| Preface Summary and Conclusions in Danish and English
1. Introduction
2. Application in Denmark
3. Turnover with Waste Products
4. Evaluation References Appendices |
In the second part of the paradigm a detailed description of the outline chapter for chapter is provided. To what extent it will be possible to cover all issues and follow the outline depends on the data available, but in principle all parts of the substance flow through the society should be addressed. If data is not available it may be necessary to make more uncertain estimates based on models or monitoring data from other countries.
Extensions of the SFA
Apart from the 'core SFA', the paradigm include a list of optional extensions, which cover parts of the substance life cycle outside these system boundaries or other aspects in connection with the use of the substance.
The following optional extensions are included:
| International market and trends in consumption, detailed analysis. |
| Qualitative description of the exposure of man by use and disposal of finished products |
| Scenarios for future emissions and loss of the substance |
| Occurrence and fate in the environment |
| National and international regulation on the use of the substance |
| Assessment of substitutes |
| Recycling, downcycling and material deterioration |
For each extension a general outline is described.
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