| Front page | | Next |

Background for spatial differentiation in LCA impact assessment - The EDIP2003 methodology

Contents

Preface

Authors' preface

1 Introduction
Authors: José Potting and Michael Hauschild

• 1.1 Methodology development in progress
• 1.2 General framework
• 1.3 Spatial differentiation and threshold exceedance
• 1.4 Problem-setting and research mandate
• 1.5 Outline of this report
• 1.6 References

2 General issues
Authors: José Potting and Michael Hauschild

• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 The basis for spatial differentiation
• 2.3 Levels of sophistication and uncertainties in impact modelling
• 2.4 The mathematical framework for spatial differentiation
• 2.5 Application of site-dependent characterisation factors
• 2.6 LCA in relation to RA and EIA
• 2.7 Threshold exceedance in LCA
• 2.8 Site-dependent normalisation
• 2.9 Temporal differentiation in LCA
• 2.10 References

3 Acidification
Authors: José Potting, Wolfgang Schöpp, Kornelis Blok and Michael Hauschild

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Typical life cycle impact assessment
• 3.3 The RAINS model
• 3.4 Emission estimates
• 3.5 Exposure assessment
• 3.6 Effect measures
• 3.7 Mathematical framework
• 3.8 Results
• 3.9 Variation of acidification factors by region
• 3.10 Robustness of the marginal approach
• 3.11 Acidification factors for substances with very short lifetimes
• 3.12 Application of acidification factors in LCA
• 3.13 Discussion
• 3.14 Uncertainties in the acidification factors
• 3.15 Definition of the acidification factor
• 3.16 Usefulness of the acidification factors
• 3.17 Conclusions and recommendations
  • 3.17.1 Acknowledgement
• 3.18 References

4 Terrestrial eutrophication
Authors: José Potting, Wolfgang Schöpp and Michael Hauschild

• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 The RAINS model
  • 4.2.1 Emission estimates
  • 4.2.2 Exposure assessment
  • 4.2.3 Effect measures
• 4.3 Calculation procedure
• 4.4 Results
• 4.5 Discussion
• 4.6 Conclusions and recommendations
  • 4.6.1 Acknowledgement
• 4.7 References

5 Aquatic eutrophication
Authors: José Potting, Arthur H.W. Beusen, Henriette Øllgaard, Ole Christian Hansen , Bronno de Haan and Michael Hauschild

• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Typical life cycle impact assessment
• 5.3 Effect
  • 5.3.1 Relevant nutrients
• 5.4 Ecological effects
  • 5.4.1 Concept of the limiting nutrient
• 5.5 The CARMEN model
  • 5.5.1 Emission estimates
  • 5.5.2 Fate and exposure assessment
• 5.6 Calculation procedure
• 5.7 Results
• 5.8 Discussion
  • 5.8.1 Application of the eutrophication factors
  • 5.8.2 Proper inventory data
  • 5.8.3 Biological oxygen demand
  • 5.8.4 Related research activities
• 5.9 Conclusions
• 5.10 References
• Annex 5.1: The river catchments modelled in CARMEN
• Annex 5.2: The coastal seas modelled in CARMEN

6 Photochemical ozone formation
Authors: Michael Hauschild, Annemarie Bastrup-Birk, Ole Hertel, Wolfgang Schöpp, José Potting

• 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.1.1 Precursors and photo-oxidants
  • 6.1.2 Photochemical ozone formation scheme
• 6.2 Existing systems for characterisation of ozone formation
• 6.3 The Rains model
  • 6.3.1 Modelling ozone formation
  • 6.3.2 Exposure indices in RAINS
  • 6.3.3 Validation of the RAINS model
• 6.4 Spatially differentiated characterisation factors
  • 6.4.1 Sub categories of ozone formation
  • 6.4.2 Characteristics of the new characterisation factors
  • 6.4.3 Differentiation between individual VOCs
• 6.5 How to perform site-generic and site-dependent characterisation
• 6.6 Normalisation references
• 6.7 Interpretation and recommendations
• 6.8 References
• Annex 6.1 Influence from meteorological conditions
• Annex 6.2 POCP values for individual VOCs
• Annex 6.3 Efficiency factors for individual VOCs and source-specified VOCs
• Annex 6.4 Normalisation references for photochemical ozone formation

7 Human toxicity
Authors: José Potting (editor), Alfred Trukenmüller, Frans Møller Christensen, Hans van Jaarsveld, Stig Irving Olsen, Michael Hauschild

• 7.1 Introduction
• 7.2 Exposure assessment
  • 7.2.1 Introduction
  • 7.2.2 The need for spatial differentiation
  • 7.2.3 Human exposure from air emissions
  • 7.2.4 Identification of source types, and classification of processes
  • 7.2.5 Accumulated human exposure increase local to the source (from 0 to 10km
  • 7.2.6 Accumulated human exposure increase regional to the source (from 10km to several hundreds to thousand kilometres)
  • 7.2.7 Total increase of accumulated exposure from air emissions
• 7.3 Effect assessment (evalution of threshold exceedance)
  • 7.3.1 Introduction
  • 7.3.2 Need for evaluation of threshold exceedance
  • 7.3.3 Possibilities for including evaluation of threshold exceedance
  • 7.3.4 Chosen type of threshold values
  • 7.3.5 Chosen emission/exposure situations and substances
• 7.4 Conclusions
  • 7.4.1 Acknowledgement
• 7.5 References
• Annex 7.1 Characterisation factors for human toxicity assessment from emissions to air
• Annex 7.2 Characterisation factors for human toxicity assessment from emissions to water
• Annex 7.3 Characterisation factors for human toxicity assessment from emissions to soil
• Annex 7.4 Specifications for the Wind rose Model Interpreter
• Annex 7.5 Addresses of reports about regional emissions and exposures
• Annex 7.6 Exposure situations ”near or above threshold”

8 Ecotoxicity
Authors: Jens Tørsløv, Michael Hauschild, Dorte Rasmussen

• 8.1 Introduction
  • 8.1.1 Ecotoxicity modelling in LCIA
  • 8.1.2 Ecotoxicity modelling in EDIP97
  • 8.1.3 Determining the physical level at which the spatial variation must be quantified
• 8.2 The cause-impact chain and its descriptors
  • 8.2.1 The emitted substance
  • 8.2.2 The emission
  • 8.2.3 Fate - dispersion and distribution
  • 8.2.4 Exposure
  • 8.2.5 Target system
  • 8.2.6 Impact
  • 8.2.7 Descriptors in the spatial characterisation
  • 8.2.8 Emissions to water
  • 8.2.9 Emissions to soil
• 8.3 Development of spatial characterisation factors
  • 8.3.1 Inclusion of spatial variation of descriptors
• 8.4 A framework for spatial characterisation modelling
  • 8.4.1 The emission component
  • 8.4.2 The evaporation component
  • 8.4.3 The biodegradation and transformation component
  • 8.4.4 The sorption and sedimentation component
• 8.5 Spatial characterisation factors for ecotoxicity
• 8.6 Discussion and recommendations
• 8.7 References
• Annex 8.1 Initial dilution of waterborne emissions
• Annex 8.2 Adsorption and immobilisation
• Annex 8.3 Biodegradation of LAS under different temperature and sorptive conditions
• Annex 8.4 Relative share of natural areas within the regions of Europe
• Annex 8.5 Relative share of emissions depositing to sea and land within the regions of Europe
• Annex 8.6 Sedimentation velocities in different aquatic systems
• Annex 8.7 Annual average temperatures of European countries
• Annex 8.8 Rate constants for evaporation of substances from water
• Annex 8.9 Removal of substances from water through the combined effect of biodegradation and sedimentation

9 Integration of external noise nuisance from road and rail transportation in lifecycle assessment
Authors: Per H. Nielsen, Jens E. Laursen

• 9.1 Introduction
• 9.2 General approach
• 9.3 Transportation
  • 9.3.1 General approach to noise from transportation
  • 9.3.2 Truck transportation
  • 9.3.3 Railway transportation
  • 9.3.4 Output from spreadsheet model
• 9.4 Discussion
• 9.5 References
• Annex 9.1 Assessment and regulation of noise
• Annex 9.2 Estimation of average population densities in three different area categories in Denmark

| Front page | | Next | | Top |

Version 1.0 April 2005, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency