Environmental risk assessment of CRT and PCB workshops in a mobile e-waste recycling plant

Health risk assessment of workers exposed to lead dust in informal e-waste recycling workshops

Informal recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) has attracted significant attention due to its economic benefits and rapid growth rate in many parts of the world. Unfortunately, unsafe conditions of recycling workshops possess chronic exposure to workers and lead to elevated blood lead concentrations (BLCs). Upon measuring the lead concentration in the dust of recycling workshops and the e-wastes in southwestern region of Iran, the related health risks were assessed in 30 exposed workers and 30 non-exposed habitants cases based on the determination of BLC. The average BLCs in exposed workers and non-exposed habitants cases were 24 μg/dL and 7 μg/dL, respectively. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) revealed heavy contamination of dust in informal e-waste recycling workshops (IERWs) (5023 μg/kg) and significantly lower levels in unexposed areas (49 μg/kg). Health risk assessment indicated that lead exposure from IERWs appears to be a potential threat to workers and indirectly to their families.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in exposed workers of municipal waste recycling facility in Iran

Exposure to heavy metals (HMs) present in the particulate matter from municipal solid waste during pretreatment and recycling processes may pose a serious health risk to workers. This was the first study on the exposure of municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling workers to toxic metals. The concentrations of HMs (Cd, Pb, As, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) during personal exposure to PM2.5 among municipal waste recycling facility workers in Kashan City, Iran, were investigated from January 15 to March 15, 2023. The research was performed in the three main stages of the waste recycling process: dismantling, sorting, and collecting. PM2.5 samples were collected using a personal environmental monitor (PEM) attached to a sampling pump. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk values and related uncertainty for waste recyclers from HMs inhalational exposure were calculated using USEPA methodology and Monte Carlo simulations. The results showed that the dismantlers exhibited the highest exposure concentrations of PM2.5 (mean 2148 ± 1257 μg m-3), followed by sorters (mean 1864 ± 965 μg m-3), and collectors (mean 1782 ± 876 μg m-3). Health risk assessment indicated that 95th percentile contents of Ni, As, Co, and Zn were responsible for the non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) values exceeding the acceptable level of 1. The contents of As, Ni, and Cr in PM2.5 caused a non-acceptable carcinogenic risk for waste recyclers due to inhalational exposure, as the carcinogenic risk (CR) values exceeded the acceptable threshold of 1 × 10-6. Monte Carlo simulation results revealed that the mean and median CR values from inhalational exposure to carcinogenic HMs exceeded the acceptable level of 1 × 10-6 for municipal waste recyclers. As results of this study indicated the high-risk to hazardous metals for waste recyclers due to occupational exposure in the MSW recycling sites, it is suggested to consider workers' exposure as the public health concern.

Emission inventories, emission factors, and composition profiles of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals (HMs) from an electronic waste dismantling park in southern China

Electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling is a significant source of atmospheric pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals (HMs), which may have adverse effects on the surrounding environment and residents. However, the organized emission inventories and emission characteristics of VOCs and HMs from e-waste dismantling are not well documented. In this study, the concentrations and components of VOCs and HMs were monitored at the exhaust gas treatment facility from two process areas of a typical e-waste dismantling park in southern China in 2021. Emission inventories of VOCs and HMs were established, with total emissions of 8.85 t/a and 18.3 kg/a for VOCs and HMs in this park, respectively. The cutting & crushing (CC) area was the largest emissions source, accounting for 82.6% of VOCs and 79.9% of HMs, respectively, while the baking plate (BP) area had higher emission factors. Additionally, the concentration and composition of VOCs and HMs in the park were also analyzed. For VOCs, the concentrations of halogenated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons were comparable in the park, while m/p-xylene, o-xylene, and chlorobenzene were the key VOC species. The HM concentrations followed the order of Pb > Cu > Mn > Ni > As > Cd > Hg, with Pb and Cu being the main heavy metals released. This is the first VOC and HM emission inventory for the e-waste dismantling park, and our data will lay a solid ground for pollution control and management for the e-waste dismantling industry.

Composition changes, releases, and potential exposure risk of PBDEs from typical E-waste plastics

Since Stockholm Convention listed polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as persistent organic pollutants and banned their addition, alternative halogen flame retardants (AHFRs) have been substituted for PBDEs. This study systematically investigates the change trends of PBDEs and AHFRs from typical e-waste plastics and dust, as well as clarifying human exposure risks of PBDEs in formal and informal e-waste recycling enterprises, repair store and residential building. The results show that the PBDEs levels in five typical types of e-waste vary in the range of 1.08 × 10^-3-30.8 μg/g, meeting the requirements of RoHS regulation. Compared with the residential buildings (1.49-1.68 μg/g), PBDEs in the dust from the formal and informal e-waste recycling enterprises are much higher, ranging from 4.70 to 536 μg/g. BDE-209 is the main congener in most e-waste plastic and dust samples. Meanwhile, AHFRs have become the important composition (3.5-61.5%) in e-waste plastics, while its contribution is lower in dust, implying the higher enrichment efficiency of PBDEs. For PBDEs exposure, the dust intake risk of PBDEs is much higher than skin contact for the workers, and the highest hazard quotient (HQ) value (1.40 × 10^-1) and cancer risk (CR) value (1.21 × 10^-7) both imply safe exposure levels.

Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flow Analysis: Two Under-Utilized Tools for Informing E-Waste Management

The unprecedented technological development and economic growth over the past two decades has resulted in streams of rapidly growing electronic waste (e-waste) around the world. As the potential source of secondary raw materials including precious and critical materials, e-waste has recently gained significant attention across the board, ranging from governments and industry, to academia and civil society organizations. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the last decade of e-waste literature followed by an in-depth analysis of the application of material flow analysis (MFA) and life cycle assessment (LCA), i.e., two less commonly used strategic tools to guide the relevant stakeholders in efficient management of e-waste. Through a keyword search on two main online search databases, Scopus and Web of Science, 1835 peer-reviewed publications were selected and subjected to a bibliographic network analysis to identify and visualize major research themes across the selected literature. The selected 1835 studies were classified into ten different categories based on research area, such as environmental and human health impacts, recycling and recovery technologies, associated social aspects, etc. With this selected literature in mind, the review process revealed the two least explored research areas over the past decade: MFA and LCA with 33 and 31 studies, respectively. A further in-depth analysis was conducted for these two areas regarding their application to various systems with numerous scopes and different stages of e-waste life cycle. The study provides a detailed discussion regarding their applicability, and highlights challenges and opportunities for further research.

Impact of Grinding of Printed Circuit Boards on the Efficiency of Metal Recovery by Means of Electrostatic Separation

This paper analyses the impact of the method of grinding printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a knife mill on the efficiency and purity of products obtained during electrostatic separation. The separated metals and plastics and ceramics can be used as secondary raw materials. This is in line with the principle of circular economy. Three different screen perforations were used in the mill to obtain different sizes of ground grains. Moreover, the effect of cooling the feed to cryogenic temperature on the final products of separation was investigated. The level of contamination of the concentrate, intermediate, and waste obtained as a result of the application of fixed, determined electrostatic separation parameters was assessed using ICP-AES, SEM–EDS, XRD, and microscopic analysis as well as specific density. The yields of grain classes obtained from grinding in a knife mill were tested through sieve analysis and by using a particle size analyser. The test results indicate that using a knife mill with a 1 mm screen perforation along with cooling the feed to cryogenic temperature significantly improves the efficiency of the process. The grinding products were characterised by the highest release level of the useful substance—metals in the free state. The purity of the concentrate and waste obtained from electrostatic separation was satisfactory, and the content of the intermediate, in which conglomerates of solid metal–plastic connections were present, was very low. The yield of concentrate and waste amounted to 26.2% and 71.0%, respectively. Their purity, reflected in the content of the identified metals (valuable metals), was at the level of 93.3% and 0.5%, respectively. In order to achieve effective recovery of metals from PCBs by means of electrostatic separation, one should strive to obtain a feed composed of grains <1000 μm and, optimally, <800 μm.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in soils from Tianjin, North China: distribution, health risk, and temporal trends

Available information is still insufficient for a comprehensive understanding of the global distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the environment. In particular, little is known about the changing trend of their distribution in urban soils. We conducted a survey of 21 PBDEs in urban soils from Tianjin, China. The chemicals were widely present in the area and summed concentrations ranged from 0.65 to 108 ng/g in soil, indicating low to moderate levels of pollution relative to other areas. BDE-209 was the predominant congener, contributing 88.9% of the concentrations of total soil PBDEs. Source assessment indicated that soil PBDEs in the area were mainly derived from the release of commercial deca-BDE from local industrial production processes and consumer products. We found that the soil concentrations of PBDEs appear to have declined in recent years, compared with other previous reports in this region. However, more studies are needed on this possible change trend of PBDE pollution, especially its impact on human health, although their calculated non-carcinogenic health risks in this study were low.

Lead and noise exposures at eight Chinese registered electronics recycling facilities

The purpose of this study was to assess employees' exposure to lead and noise, and to recommend control strategies for reducing these exposures at eight registered electronics recycling facilities in Eastern China. Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (JSCDC) performed a walkthrough and review of health and safety programs during a first visit and conducted full-shift personal and area air monitoring for lead, as well as personal noise exposure measurements on a second visit. Monitoring was performed over two work shifts for a total of 168 employees. Results indicated that employees working at glass breaking and cathode ray tubes dismantling were overexposed both to noise and lead. Airborne lead concentration ranged from 0.1 to 148 μg/m³; and 4 of the 101 samples were above the Chinese permissible exposure limit of 50 μg/m³. Overexposures to lead involved cathode ray tubes dismantling and glass breaking. Employees working at plastics shredding and glass breaking areas were overexposed to noise. Full-shift time-weighted average noise levels ranged from 64 to 107 dBA; and 85 of the 123 samples were above the Chinese permissible exposure limit of 85 dBA. Control measures to reduce exposure to lead and noise, including improvements in their lead protection and hearing conservation programs, at these electronics recycling facilities were recommended.

A review of sustainable e-waste generation and management: Present and future perspectives

Studies on sustainable management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (or e-waste) have gained increasing attention from researchers around the world in recent years, with investigations into various aspects of e-waste management were investigated. Studies on e-waste generation by previous papers have been reviewed to provide an overview of the current research progress and recommendations for future research. The relevant existing studies were collected from various databases. Using content analysis, three main aspects of the existing studies were evaluated: the distribution and trends of the publications, the scope and boundaries of the studies, and the current research practices and research applications. Although there was a significant increasing trend of the amount of research on the evaluation of e-waste generation, however, the number of publications based on the countries of origin was still small. Another limitation was found related to the differences in the selection of research subjects and the level of analysis resulted in variations in the scopes and boundaries of the existing studies. Various other research areas were investigated further based on their research findings, but the analysis of various methodological aspects was complicated due to the increasing number of newly developed methodologies and the lack of comprehensive and up-to-date reviews on this research area. Additionally, there was also a need to evaluate emerging and/or older technology, which led electrical appliances to be overlooked. We found that comprehensive and up-to-date reviews of the methodological aspects of e-waste generation are still lacking. Based on the research gaps and limitations discussed, recommendations for future research were made.

SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS FOR END-OF-LIFE CHEMICAL RELEASES AND POTENTIAL EXPOSURE

Understanding the chemical risk to environment and human health is an important issue when a waste management strategy and a control risk system is analyzed and selected. This is even more important at the end-of-life (recycling, recovery and disposal) scenario for a chemical due to the uncertainty in respect of the most susceptible receptors (e.g., workers), pathways (e.g., groundwater), routes (e.g., inhalation) and hazard (e.g., cancer) associated to a chemical exposure. Hence, selecting a group of sustainability performance indicators for estimating the chemical risk when evaluating end-of-life scenarios is a crucial task. Therefore, this manuscript focuses on a critical analysis of the sustainability indicators taxonomy which are used to assess chemical risk to the environment and human health during end-of-life scenarios. The insights from performing an extensive literature search in the largest database of peer-reviewed literature provide that chemical intake, hazard quotient, hazard index, and carcinogenic risk have been the most commonly used for human health chemical risk. In addition, previous research has been less focused on environment chemical risk, with ecological risk index being the most widely used indicator for. The most employed human health chemical risk sustainability indicators are part of a methodology suggested by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for chemical risk assessment.

Health Risks of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Metals at Informal Electronic Waste Recycling Sites

Concerns about the adverse public health consequences of informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling are increasing. This study adopted a cross-sectional study design to gain insights into health risks (cancer and non-cancer risks) associated with exposure to e-waste chemicals among informal e-waste workers via three main routes: Dermal contact, ingestion, and inhalation. The e-waste chemicals (PBDE and metals) were measured in the dust and top soils at e-waste sites (burning, dismantling, and repair sites). Adverse health risks were calculated using the EPA model developed by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States. The concentrations of the e-waste chemicals and the health risks at the e-waste sites increased as the intensity of the e-waste recycling activities increased: control sites < repair sites < dismantling sites < burning sites. Dermal contact was the main route of exposure while exposure via inhalation was negligible for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. Cumulative health risks via all routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact) exceeded the acceptable limits of both non-cancer effects and cancer risk at all e-waste sites. This indicates that overall the e-waste workers are at the risk of adverse health effects. Therefore, the importance of occupational safety programs and management regulations for e-waste workers cannot be over emphasised.

Has the question of e-waste opened a Pandora's box? An overview of unpredictable issues and challenges

Despite regulatory efforts and position papers, electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) remains ill-managed as evidenced by the extremely low rates of proper e-waste recycling (e-recycling) worldwide, ongoing illegal shipments to developing countries and constantly reported human health issues and environmental pollution. The objectives of this review are, first, to expose the complexity of e-waste problems, and then to suggest possible upstream and downstream solutions. Exploring e-waste issues is akin to opening a Pandora's box. Thus, a review of prevailing e-waste management practices reveals complex and often intertwined gaps, issues and challenges. These include the absence of any consistent definition of e-waste to date, a prevalent toxic potential still involving already banned or restricted hazardous components such as heavy metals and persistent and bioaccumulative organic compounds, a relentless growth in e-waste volume fueled by planned obsolescence and unsustainable consumption, problematic e-recycling processes, a fragile formal e-recycling sector, sustained and more harmful informal e-recycling practices, and more convoluted and unpredictable patterns of illegal e-waste trade. A close examination of the e-waste legacy contamination reveals critical human health concerns, including significant occupational exposure during both formal and informal e-recycling, and persistent environmental contamination, particularly in some developing countries. However, newly detected e-waste contaminants as well as unexpected sources and environmental fates of contaminants are among the emerging issues that raise concerns. Moreover, scientific knowledge gaps remain regarding the complexity and magnitude of the e-waste legacy contamination, specifically, a comprehensive characterization of e-waste contaminants, information on the scale of legacy contamination in developing countries and on the potential environmental damage in developed countries, and a stronger body of evidence of adverse health effects specifically ascribed to e-waste contaminants. However, the knowledge accumulated to date is sufficient to raise awareness and concern among all stakeholders. Potential solutions to curb e-waste issues should be addressed comprehensively, by focusing on two fronts: upstream and downstream. Potential upstream solutions should focus on more rational and eco-oriented consumer habits in order to decrease e-waste quantities while fostering ethical and sustained commitments from manufacturers, which include a limited usage of hazardous compounds and an optimal increase in e-waste recyclability. At the downstream level, solutions should include suitable and pragmatic actions to progressively reduce the illegal e-waste trade particularly through international cooperation and coordination, better enforcement of domestic laws, and monitoring in both exporting and receiving countries, along with the supervised integration of the informal sector into the recycling system of developing countries and global expansion of formal e-waste collection and recycling activities. Downstream solutions should also introduce stronger reverse logistics, together with upgraded, more affordable, and eco-friendly and worker-friendly e-recycling technologies to ensure that benefits are derived fully and safely from the great economic potential of e-waste.

A device-specific prioritization strategy based on the potential for harm to human health in informal WEEE recycling

In developing countries, the recovery of valuable materials from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is carried out via uncontrolled practices, posing potentially severe risks both to human health and the environment. The assessment of the risk, which depends on both the kind and hazardous properties of the substances contained in WEEE, is currently limited as the exposure scenario for the single informal practice cannot be fully characterized for this purpose. In this context, this work proposes and evaluates a strategy to identify the relative potential harm of different kinds of WEEE by their content in metals, selected as the target substances of concern. This was based on the individual metal content, primarily located in the printed circuit boards (PCBs) of the different devices. The metal composition of the individual PCBs was identified and the dominant unregulated metal recovery practices were reviewed to identify the most suitable parameter to express the toxicity of these metals. Based on a mass-normalized cumulative toxicity, via the inhalation route, individual components were assessed from compositional variation found in the literature. The results is a semiquantitative ranking of individual components, revealing significant differences in potential harm posed by different electronic appliances and an opportunity to provide prioritization strategies in future management.

Quantifying the potential export flows of used electronic products in Macau: a case study of PCs

The used electronic product (UEP) has attracted the worldwide attentions because part of e-waste may be exported from developed countries to developing countries in the name of UEP. On the basis of large foreign trade data of electronic products (e-products), this study adopted the trade data approach (TDA) to quantify the potential exports of UEP in Macau, taking a case study of personal computers (PCs). The results show that the desktop mainframes, LCD monitors, and CRT monitors have more low-unit-value trades with higher trade volumes in the past 10 years, while the laptop and tablet PCs, as the newer technologies, owned the higher ratios of the high-unit-value trades. During the period of 2005-2015, the total mean exports for used laptop and tablet PCs, desktop mainframes, and LCD monitors were approximately 18,592, 79,957, and 43,177 units, respectively, while the possible export volume of used CRT monitors was higher, up to 430,098 units in 2000-2010. Noticed that these potential export volumes could be the lower bound because not all used PCs may be shipped using the PC trade code. For all the four kinds of used PCs, the majority (61.6-98.82%) of the export volumes have gone to Hong Kong, followed by Mainland China and Taiwan. Since 2011, there was no CRT monitor export; however, the other kinds of used PC exports will still exist in Macau in the future. The outcomes are helpful to understand and manage the current export situations of used products in Macau, and can also provide a reference for other countries and regions.

Evaluating waste printed circuit boards recycling: Opportunities and challenges, a mini review

Rapid generation of waste printed circuit boards has become a very serious issue worldwide. Numerous techniques have been developed in the last decade to resolve the pollution from waste printed circuit boards, and also recover valuable metals from the waste printed circuit boards stream on a large-scale. However, these techniques have their own certain specific drawbacks that need to be rectified properly. In this review article, these recycling technologies are evaluated based on a strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis. Furthermore, it is warranted that, the substantial research is required to improve the current technologies for waste printed circuit boards recycling in the outlook of large-scale applications.

Designing and examining e-waste recycling process: methodology and case studies

Increasing concerns on resource depletion and environmental pollution have largely obliged electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) should be tackled in an environmentally sound manner. Recycling process development is regarded as the most effective and fundamental to solve the e-waste problem. Based on global achievements related to e-waste recycling in the past 15 years, we first propose a theory to design an e-waste recycling process, including measuring e-waste recyclability and selection of recycling process. And we summarize the indicators and tools in terms of resource dimension, environmental dimension, and economic dimension, to examine the e-waste recycling process. Using the sophisticated experience and adequate information of e-waste management, spent lithium-ion batteries and waste printed circuit boards are chosen as case studies to implement and verify the proposed method. All the potential theory and obtained results in this work can contribute to future e-waste management toward best available techniques and best environmental practices.

The formal electronic recycling industry: Challenges and opportunities in occupational and environmental health research

BACKGROUND

E-waste includes electrical and electronic equipment discarded as waste without intent of reuse. Informal e-waste recycling, typically done in smaller, unorganized businesses, can expose workers and communities to serious chemical health hazards. It is unclear if formalization into larger, better-controlled electronics recycling (e-recycling) facilities solves environmental and occupational health problems.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review the literature on occupational and environmental health hazards of formal e-recycling facilities and discuss challenges and opportunities to strengthen research in this area.

METHODS

We identified 37 publications from 4 electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Environmental Index, NIOSHTIC-2) specific to chemical exposures in formal e-recycling facilities.

DISCUSSION

Environmental and occupational exposures depend on the degree of formalization of the facilities but further reduction is needed. Reported worker exposures to metals were often higher than recommended occupational guidelines. Levels of brominated flame-retardants in worker's inhaled air and biological samples were higher than those from reference groups. Air, dust, and soil concentrations of metals, brominated flame-retardants, dioxins, furans, polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons, or polychlorinated biphenyls found inside or near the facilities were generally higher than reference locations, suggesting transport into the environment. Children of a recycler had blood lead levels higher than public health recommended guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

With mounting e-waste, more workers, their family members, and communities could experience unhealthful exposures to metals and other chemicals. We identified research needs to further assess exposures, health, and improve controls. The long-term solution is manufacturing of electronics without harmful substances and easy-to-disassemble components.

Relationship between e-waste recycling and human health risk in India: a critical review

Informal recycling of waste (including e-waste) is an emerging source of environmental pollution in India. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and heavy metals, among other substances, are a major health concern for workers engaged in waste disposal and processing, and for residents living near these facilities, and are also a detriment to the natural environment. The main objective of this review article was to evaluate the status of these impacts. The review found that, huge quantity of e-waste/waste generated, only a small amount is treated formally; the remainder is processed through the informal sector. We also evaluated the exposure pathways, both direct and indirect, and the human body load markers (e.g., serum, blood, breast milk, urine, and hair), and assessed the evidence for the association between these markers and e-waste exposure. Our results indicated that the open dumping and informal e-waste recycling systems should be replaced by the best available technology and environmental practices, with proper monitoring and regular awareness programs for workers and residents. Further and more detailed investigation in this area is also recommended.

Environmental pollution of electronic waste recycling in India: A critical review

The rapid growth of the production of electrical and electronic products has meant an equally rapid growth in the amount of electronic waste (e-waste), much of which is illegally imported to India, for disposal presenting a serious environmental challenge. The environmental impact during e-waste recycling was investigated and metal as well as other pollutants [e.g. polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)] were found in excessive levels in soil, water and other habitats. The most e-waste is dealt with as general or crudely often by open burning, acid baths, with recovery of only a few materials of value. As resulted of these process; dioxins, furans, and heavy metals are released and harmful to the surrounding environment, engaged workers, and also residents inhabiting near the sites. The informal e-waste sectors are growing rapidly in the developing countries over than in the developed countries because of cheapest labor cost and week legislations systems. It has been confirmed that contaminates are moving through the food chain via root plant translocation system, to the human body thereby threatening human health. We have suggested some possible solution toward in which plants and microbes combine to remediate highly contaminated sites.

Review of Environmental Assessment Case Studies Blending Elements of Risk Assessment and Life Cycle Assessment

Risk assessment (RA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) are two analytical tools used to support decision making in environmental management. This study reviewed 30 environmental assessment case studies that claimed an integration, combination, hybridization, or complementary use of RA and LCA. The focus of the analysis was on how the respective case studies evaluated emissions of chemical pollutants and pathogens. The analysis revealed three clusters of similar case studies. Yet, there seemed to be little consensus as to what should be referred to as RA and LCA, and when to speak of combination, integration, hybridization, or complementary use of RA and LCA. This paper provides clear recommendations toward a more stringent and consistent use of terminology. Blending elements of RA and LCA offers multifaceted opportunities to adapt a given environmental assessment case study to a specific decision making context, but also requires awareness of several implications and potential pitfalls, of which six are discussed in this paper. To facilitate a better understanding and more transparent communication of the nature of a given case study, this paper proposes a "design space" (i.e., identification framework) for environmental assessment case studies blending elements of RA and LCA. Thinking in terms of a common design space, we postulate, can increase clarity and transparency when communicating the design and results of a given assessment together with its potential strengths and weaknesses.