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Sudheshwar A, Apel C, Kümmerer K, Wang Z, Soeteman-Hernández LG, Valsami-Jones E, Som C, Nowack B. Learning from Safe-by-Design for Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design: Mapping the current landscape of Safe-by-Design reviews, case studies, and frameworks. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108305. [PMID: 38048736 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
With the introduction of the European Commission's "Safe and Sustainable-by-Design" (SSbD) framework, the interest in understanding the implications of safety and sustainability assessments of chemicals, materials, and processes at early-innovation stages has skyrocketed. Our study focuses on the "Safe-by-Design" (SbD) approach from the nanomaterials sector, which predates the SSbD framework. In this assessment, SbD studies have been compiled and categorized into reviews, case studies, and frameworks. Reviews of SbD tools have been further classified as quantitative, qualitative, or toolboxes and repositories. We assessed the SbD case studies and classified them into three categories: safe(r)-by-modeling, safe(r)-by-selection, or safe(r)-by-redesign. This classification enabled us to understand past SbD work and subsequently use it to define future SSbD work so as to avoid confusion and possibilities of "SSbD-washing" (similar to greenwashing). Finally, the preexisting SbD frameworks have been studied and contextualized against the SSbD framework. Several key recommendations for SSbD based on our analysis can be made. Knowledge gained from existing approaches such as SbD, green and sustainable chemistry, and benign-by-design approaches needs to be preserved and effectively transferred to SSbD. Better incorporation of chemical and material functionality into the SSbD framework is required. The concept of lifecycle thinking and the stage-gate innovation model need to be reconciled for SSbD. The development of high-throughput screening models is critical for the operationalization of SSbD. We conclude that the rapid pace of both SbD and SSbD development necessitates a regular mapping of the newly published literature that is relevant to this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshat Sudheshwar
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Christina Apel
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Institute of Sustainable Chemistry, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Kümmerer
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Institute of Sustainable Chemistry, Lüneburg, Germany; International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3), Bonn, Germany
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Lya G Soeteman-Hernández
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center for Safety of Substances and Products, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - Claudia Som
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Nowack
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
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2
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Liu B, Zhou H, Li L, Ai J, He H, Yu J, Li P, Zhang W. Environmental impact and optimization suggestions of pig manure and wastewater treatment systems from a life cycle perspective. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167262. [PMID: 37741414 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid development of the pig farming industry in China, a large amount of pig manure is inevitably generated. The management and utilization of pig manure in a sustainable approach require a systematic analysis of the environmental impacts generated from the existing pig manure treatment and disposal routes. In this study, three typical pig manure treatment and disposal routes: pig manure solid-liquid separation, i) wastewater biological treatment, direct land application of manure/sludge; ii) black-film anaerobic digestion of wastewater, mono-composting of manure/sludge and land use; iii) wastewater biological treatment, co-composting of manure/sludge and land use, were comparatively assessed in terms of their environmental impacts using the life cycle assessment. The results show that the added chemicals in wastewater treatment and the consumed electricity in composting the manure/sludge are the two main contributors to all environmental impacts. Thus, using green chemicals, controlling the dosage of added chemicals accurately, and selecting composting types with low energy consumption will significantly reduce the environmental burden of pig manure treatment and disposal routes. For the global warming potential of the evaluated three pig manure treatment and disposal routes, direct emissions of greenhouse gases during the composting process contribute the most, accounting for 77 %, 95 %, and 79 %, respectively. Furthermore, the struvite recovery with anaerobic digestion from pig manure will bring excellent environmental benefits, which will markedly offset the toxicity impacts and carbon emissions derived from pig manure treatment and disposal process. Overall, this work quantitatively evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the existing pig manure treatment and disposal routes, providing insights on optimization for future technical improvement and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Liu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Hao Zhou
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Lanfeng Li
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Ai
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Hang He
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Junxia Yu
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Ping Li
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Weijun Zhang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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3
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Lichter KE, Charbonneau K, Sabbagh A, Witztum A, Chuter R, Anand C, Thiel CL, Mohamad O. Evaluating the Environmental Impact of Radiation Therapy Using Life Cycle Assessments: A Critical Review. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023; 117:554-567. [PMID: 37172916 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Concurrent increases in global cancer burden and the climate crisis pose an unprecedented threat to public health and human well-being. Today, the health care sector greatly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, with the future demand for health care services expected to rise. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an internationally standardized tool that analyzes the inputs and outputs of products, processes, and systems to quantify associated environmental impacts. This critical review explains the use of LCA methodology and outlines its application to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with the aim of providing a robust methodology to quantify the environmental impact of radiation therapy care practices today. The steps of an LCA are outlined and explained as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14040 and 14044) guidelines: (1) definition of the goal and scope of the LCA, (2) inventory analysis, (3) impact assessment, and (4) interpretation. The existing LCA framework and its methodology is described and applied to the field of radiation oncology. The goal and scope of its application to EBRT is the evaluation of the environmental impact of a single EBRT treatment course within a radiation oncology department. The methodology for data collection via mapping of the resources used (inputs) and the end-of-life processes (outputs) associated with EBRT is explained, with subsequent explanation of the LCA analysis steps. Finally, the importance of appropriate sensitivity analysis and the interpretations that can be drawn from LCA results are reviewed. This critical review of LCA protocol provides and evaluates a methodological framework to scientifically establish baseline environmental performance measurements within a health care setting and assists in identifying targets for emissions mitigation. Future LCAs in the field of radiation oncology and across medical specialties will be crucial in informing best practices for equitable and sustainable care in a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie E Lichter
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California.
| | - Kiley Charbonneau
- Loyola University Chicago-Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ali Sabbagh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Alon Witztum
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Rob Chuter
- Christie Medical Physics and Engineering, Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Cassandra L Thiel
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Osama Mohamad
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California
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4
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Drobne D, Ciornii D, Hodoroaba V, Bohmer N, Novak S, Kranjc E, Kononenko V, Reuther R. Knowledge, Information, and Data Readiness Levels (KaRLs) for Risk Assessment, Communication, and Governance of Nano-, New, and Other Advanced Materials. GLOBAL CHALLENGES (HOBOKEN, NJ) 2023; 7:2200211. [PMID: 37483420 PMCID: PMC10362106 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202200211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The obvious benefits derived from the increasing use of engineered nano-, new, and advanced materials and associated products have to be weighed out by a governance process against their possible risks. Differences in risk perception (beliefs about potential harm) among stakeholders, in particular nonscientists, and low transparency of the underlying decision processes can lead to a lack of support and acceptance of nano-, new, and other advanced material enabled products. To integrate scientific outcomes with stakeholders needs, this work develops a new approach comprising a nine-level, stepwise categorization and guidance system entitled "Knowledge, Information, and Data Readiness Levels" (KaRLs), analogous to the NASA Technology Readiness Levels. The KaRL system assesses the type, extent, and usability of the available data, information, and knowledge and integrates the participation of relevant and interested stakeholders in a cocreation/codesign process to improve current risk assessment, communication, and governance. The novelty of the new system is to communicate and share all available and relevant elements on material related risks in a user/stakeholder-friendly, transparent, flexible, and holistic way and so stimulate reflection, awareness, communication, and a deeper understanding that ultimately enables the discursive process that is needed for the sustainable risk governance of new materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damjana Drobne
- Department of BiologyBiotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaVečna pot 111Ljubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Dmitri Ciornii
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und‐Prüfung (BAM)Division 6.1 Surface Analysis and Interfacial ChemistryUnter den Eichen 8712205BerlinGermany
| | - Vasile‐Dan Hodoroaba
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und‐Prüfung (BAM)Division 6.1 Surface Analysis and Interfacial ChemistryUnter den Eichen 8712205BerlinGermany
| | - Nils Bohmer
- Evonik Operations GmbHRodenbacher Chaussee 463457Hanau‐WolfgangGermany
| | - Sara Novak
- Department of BiologyBiotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaVečna pot 111Ljubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Eva Kranjc
- Department of BiologyBiotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaVečna pot 111Ljubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Veno Kononenko
- Department of BiologyBiotechnical FacultyUniversity of LjubljanaVečna pot 111Ljubljana1000Slovenia
| | - Rudolf Reuther
- Environmental AssessmentsOberes Lautenbächle 377886LaufGermany
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5
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Zhang S, Ke M, Li L, Chen K, Hicks A, Wu F, You J. UV-dependent freshwater effect factor of nanoscale titanium dioxide for future life cycle assessment application. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2023; 19:578-585. [PMID: 36111587 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental impacts of nanoscale titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) should be assessed throughout the lifetime of nanoparticles (NPs) to improve the state of knowledge of the overall sustainability. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been previously recognized as a promising approach to systematically evaluating environmental impacts of NPs. As a result of their unique nanospecific properties, characterization factors (CF) were previously used for compensating the release and potential impacts of TiO2 NPs. However, because TiO2 NPs are known to generate reactive oxygen species and elicit toxicity to freshwater organisms, the lack of adequate UV-dependent effect factors (EFs) remains a major shortcoming when addressing their life cycle impacts. To complement the LCA of TiO2 -NPs-enabled products under their specific applications, we recapitulated the freshwater toxicity of TiO2 NPs and then modeled in USEtox to determine trophic level EF ranges under UV and non-UV exposure conditions. Results indicate that EFs derived for non-UV exposure were 52 (42.9-65) potentially affected fraction (PAF) m3 /kg, and combined toxicity data derived EFs were 70.1 (55.6-90.5) PAF m3 /kg. When considering only the UV-induced exposure condition, the modeled EF increased to 500 (333-712) PAF m3 /kg. Our work highlights that case-dependent EFs should be considered and applied to reflect more realistic ecological impacts and illustrate comprehensive life cycle environmental impacts for nanoenabled products. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:578-585. © 2022 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqiong Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollutants and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingyan Ke
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollutants and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Liang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollutants and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Keyan Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollutants and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Andrea Hicks
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Fan Wu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollutants and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing You
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollutants and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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6
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Askham C, Pauna VH, Boulay AM, Fantke P, Jolliet O, Lavoie J, Booth AM, Coutris C, Verones F, Weber M, Vijver MG, Lusher A, Hajjar C. Generating environmental sampling and testing data for micro- and nanoplastics for use in life cycle impact assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160038. [PMID: 36395847 PMCID: PMC9760571 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing efforts focus on quantifying plastic pollution and describing and estimating the related magnitude of exposure and impacts on human and environmental health. Data gathered during such work usually follows a receptor perspective. However, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) represents an emitter perspective. This study examines existing data gathering and reporting approaches for field and laboratory studies on micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) exposure and effects relevant to LCA data inputs. The outcomes indicate that receptor perspective approaches do not typically provide suitable or sufficiently harmonised data. Improved design is needed in the sampling, testing and recording of results using harmonised, validated and comparable methods, with more comprehensive reporting of relevant data. We propose a three-level set of requirements for data recording and reporting to increase the potential for LCA studies and models to utilise data gathered in receptor-oriented studies. We show for which purpose such data can be used as inputs to LCA, particularly in life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods. Implementing these requirements will facilitate proper integration of the potential environmental impacts of plastic losses from human activity (e.g. litter) into LCA. Then, the impacts of plastic emissions can eventually be connected and compared with other environmental issues related to anthropogenic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Askham
- Norwegian Institute for Sustainability Research (NORSUS), Stadion 4, 1671 Kråkerøy, Norway.
| | - Valentina H Pauna
- Norwegian Institute for Sustainability Research (NORSUS), Stadion 4, 1671 Kråkerøy, Norway; International PhD Programme/UNESCO Chair "Environment, Resources and Sustainable Development", Department of Science and Technology, Parthenope University of Naples, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Anne-Marie Boulay
- CIRAIG, Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Canada
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jérôme Lavoie
- CIRAIG, UQÀM/ISE-Institute of Environmental Sciences, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Claire Coutris
- NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Division of Environment and Natural Resources, Ås, Norway
| | - Francesca Verones
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Martina G Vijver
- Leiden University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, the Netherlands
| | - Amy Lusher
- Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway; Department of Biological Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Carla Hajjar
- CIRAIG, Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Canada
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7
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Subramanian V, Peijnenburg WJGM, Vijver MG, Blanco CF, Cucurachi S, Guinée JB. Approaches to implement safe by design in early product design through combining risk assessment and Life Cycle Assessment. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 311:137080. [PMID: 36328317 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Safe by Design (SbD) concept aims to ensure the production, use and disposal of materials and products safely. While there is a growing interest in the potential of SbD to support policy commitments, such as the EU Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan in Europe, methodological approaches and practical guidelines on SbD are, however, largely missing. The combined use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Risk Assessment (RA) is considered suitable to operationalize SbD over the whole life-cycle of a product. Here, we explore the potential of the combined use of LCA and RA at Technological Readiness Level (TRL) 1-6. We perform a review of the literature presenting and/or developing approaches that combine LCA and RA at early stages of product design. We identify that basic early-on-evaluations of safety (e.g., apply lifecycle thinking to assess risk hotspots, avoid use of hazardous chemicals, minimize other environmental impacts from chemicals) are more common, while more complex assessments (e.g., ex-ante LCA, control banding, predictive (eco)toxicology) require specialized expertise. The application of these simplified approaches and guidelines aims to avoid some obvious sources of risks and impacts at early stages. Critical gaps need to be addressed for wider application of SbD, including more studies in the product design context, developing tools and databases containing collated information on risk, greater collaboration between RA/LCA researchers and companies, and policy discussion on the expansion from SbD to Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vrishali Subramanian
- Leiden University, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), PO Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands.
| | - Willie J G M Peijnenburg
- Leiden University, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), PO Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands; National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center for Safety of Substances and Products, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Martina G Vijver
- Leiden University, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), PO Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Carlos F Blanco
- Leiden University, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), PO Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Stefano Cucurachi
- Leiden University, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), PO Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen B Guinée
- Leiden University, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), PO Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
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8
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Zhou H, Wei L, Wang D, Zhang W. Environmental impacts and optimizing strategies of municipal sludge treatment and disposal routes in China based on life cycle analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 166:107378. [PMID: 35780685 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The management and utilization of sludge in a sustainable approach require a systematic analysis of the environmental impacts generated from diverse sludge treatment and disposal processes. This study systematically assessed 12 common sludge treatment and disposal routes based on the existing operating and construction conditions of representative sludge disposal projects in China. We evaluated their environmental impacts using a life cycle assessment following the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14040 and ISO 14044), and found that the routes of co-incineration, mono-incineration, and anaerobic digestion with or without thermal hydrolysis may be useful in terms of simultaneously controlling environmental pollution and carbon emissions in China. Therein, the route of co-incineration was recommended as the best one because its human toxicity potential (-152.31 kg dichlorobenzene (1,4-DB) eq/ton dry solid (t DS)), freshwater ecotoxicity potential (FEP, -127.40 kg 1,4-DB eq/t DS), terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TEP, -0.81 kg 1,4-DB eq/t DS), and global warming potential (-27.26 kg CO2 eq/t DS) were all negative (environmental benefits). Furthermore, the toxicity impacts of the mono-incineration route were also negative, but it still needed to further enhance energy recovery to reduce carbon emissions. Despite the routes of anaerobic digestion and thermal hydrolysis in combination with anaerobic digestion had the excellent negative carbon emission attributes (-572.44 kg CO2 eq/t DS, -474.92 kg CO2 eq/t DS), they showed serious FEP and TEP owing to the heavy metals pollution caused by subsequent land use of anaerobic digested sludge. Overall, this study selected the most suitable sludge treatment and disposal routes to simultaneously satisfy the requirements of carbon emission reduction and pollution control in China and proposed optimizing suggestions for future technical improvement and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China
| | - Liangliang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Weijun Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China.
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9
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De Luca Peña LV, Taelman SE, Préat N, Boone L, Van der Biest K, Custódio M, Hernandez Lucas S, Everaert G, Dewulf J. Towards a comprehensive sustainability methodology to assess anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems: Review of the integration of Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Risk Assessment and Ecosystem Services Assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 808:152125. [PMID: 34871681 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, a variety of methodologies are available to assess local, regional and global impacts of human activities on ecosystems, which include Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) and Ecosystem Services Assessment (ESA). However, none can individually assess both the positive and negative impacts of human activities at different geographical scales in a comprehensive manner. In order to overcome the shortcomings of each methodology and develop more holistic assessments, the integration of these methodologies is essential. Several studies have attempted to integrate these methodologies either conceptually or through applied case studies. To understand why, how and to what extent these methodologies have been integrated, a total of 110 relevant publications were reviewed. The analysis of the case studies showed that the integration can occur at different positions along the cause-effect chain and from this, a classification scheme was proposed to characterize the different integration approaches. Three categories of integration are distinguished: post-analysis, integration through the combination of results, and integration through the complementation of a driving method. The literature review highlights that the most recurrent type of integration is the latter. While the integration through the complementation of a driving method is more realistic and accurate compared to the other two categories, its development is more complex and a higher data requirement could be needed. In addition to this, there is always the risk of double-counting for all the approaches. None of the integration approaches can be categorized as a full integration, but this is not necessarily needed to have a comprehensive assessment. The most essential aspect is to select the appropriate components from each methodology that can cover both the environmental and socioeconomic costs and benefits of human activities on the ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vittoria De Luca Peña
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
| | - Sue Ellen Taelman
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Nils Préat
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Lieselot Boone
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Van der Biest
- Ecosystem Management Research Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Marco Custódio
- Flanders Marine Institute, Wandelaarkaai 7, B8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Simon Hernandez Lucas
- Ghent University, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, 9000, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent University, BLUEGent Business Development Center in Aquaculture and Blue Life Sciences, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gert Everaert
- Flanders Marine Institute, Wandelaarkaai 7, B8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Jo Dewulf
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
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10
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Hernandez-Betancur JD, Ruiz-Mercado GJ, Abraham JP, Martin M, Ingwersen WW, Smith RL. Data engineering for tracking chemicals and releases at industrial end-of-life activities. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 405:124270. [PMID: 33158647 PMCID: PMC7958969 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Performing risk evaluation is necessary to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the environment across its life cycle stages. Data gathering, reconciliation, and management for supporting risk evaluation are time-consuming and challenging, especially for end-of-life (EoL) activities due to the need for proper reporting and traceability. A data engineering framework using publicly-available databases to track chemicals in waste streams generated by industrial activities and transferred to other facilities across different U.S. locations for waste management is implemented. The analysis tracks chemicals in waste streams generated at industrial processes and handling at off-site facilities and then estimates releases from EoL activities. The final product of this effort is a framework that identifies a set of chemical, activity, and industry sector categories as well as hazardous waste flows, emission factors, and uncertainty indicators to describe EoL activities. This framework helps to identify EoL exposure scenarios that would otherwise not be evaluated. As a case study, methylene chloride, one of the first ten chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the amended U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act, was evaluated with results highlighting potential additional exposure scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose D Hernandez-Betancur
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, hosted by Office of Research & Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Salamanca, Plz. Caidos 1-5, Salamanca 37008, Spain
| | - Gerardo J Ruiz-Mercado
- Office of Research & Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - John P Abraham
- Office of Research & Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Mariano Martin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Salamanca, Plz. Caidos 1-5, Salamanca 37008, Spain
| | - Wesley W Ingwersen
- Office of Research & Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Raymond L Smith
- Office of Research & Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
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11
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Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment in Industrial Biotechnology: A Review of Current Approaches and Future Needs. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 173:143-203. [PMID: 32227251 DOI: 10.1007/10_2020_122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
The development and implementation of industrial biotechnology (IB) is associated with high expectations for reductions of environmental impacts and risks, particularly in terms of climate change and fossil resource depletion, positive socioeconomic effects, hopes for new competitive products and processes, and development in rural areas. However, not all products and processes are really advantageous with regard to sustainability criteria, and not all are economically successful and accepted by stakeholders. Sustainability and life cycle assessment can play an important role to assess IB products and processes, often accompanying development processes from the early stages onwards. Such assessments can identify key factors regarding sustainability criteria, enable a determination of both product and process performance, or aid in prospectively estimating such performance and its consequences. Thus, development processes, investment decisions, policymaking, and the communication with stakeholders can be supported. This contribution reviews the field of sustainability and life cycle assessment in IB. We explore relevant literature from a methodical and application perspective and categorise suitable methodologies, methods, and tools. We characterise IB from an assessment perspective and indicate challenges, discuss approaches to address these, and identify possible fields of future research. Thus, students, researchers, and practitioners in the field of IB will obtain an up-to-date overview, references to relevant fields of literature, and guidance for own studies in this important and fast-emerging topic.
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12
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Sustainability strategy and blockchain-enabled life cycle assessment: a focus on materials industry. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10669-020-09761-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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13
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Garre A, Boué G, Fernández PS, Membré JM, Egea JA. Evaluation of Multicriteria Decision Analysis Algorithms in Food Safety: A Case Study on Emerging Zoonoses Prioritization. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2020; 40:336-351. [PMID: 31469918 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Decision making in food safety is a complex process that involves several criteria of different nature like the expected reduction in the number of illnesses, the potential economic or health-related cost, or even the environmental impact of a given policy or intervention. Several multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) algorithms are currently used, mostly individually, in food safety to rank different options in a multifactorial environment. However, the selection of the MCDA algorithm is a decision problem on its own because different methods calculate different rankings. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of different uncertainty sources on the rankings of MCDA problems in the context of food safety. For that purpose, a previously published data set on emerging zoonoses in the Netherlands was used to compare different MCDA algorithms: MMOORA, TOPSIS, VIKOR, WASPAS, and ELECTRE III. The rankings were calculated with and without considering uncertainty (using fuzzy sets), to assess the importance of this factor. The rankings obtained differed between algorithms, emphasizing that the selection of the MCDA method had a relevant impact in the rankings. Furthermore, considering uncertainty in the ranking had a high influence on the results. Both factors were more relevant than the weights associated with each criterion in this case study. A hierarchical clustering method was suggested to aggregate results obtained by the different algorithms. This complementary step seems to be a promising way to decrease extreme difference among algorithms and could provide a strong added value in the decision-making process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Garre
- Departamento de Ingeniería de Alimentos y del Equipamiento Agrícola, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (ETSIA), Cartagena, Spain
- Food Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Geraldine Boué
- SECALIM, INRA, Oniris, Université Bretagne Loire, Nantes, France
| | - Pablo S Fernández
- Departamento de Ingeniería de Alimentos y del Equipamiento Agrícola, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (ETSIA), Cartagena, Spain
| | | | - Jose A Egea
- Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus Universitario de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
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14
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Wood MD, Plourde K, Larkin S, Egeghy PP, Williams AJ, Zemba V, Linkov I, Vallero DA. Advances on a Decision Analytic Approach to Exposure-Based Chemical Prioritization. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2020; 40:83-96. [PMID: 29750840 PMCID: PMC7076565 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The volume and variety of manufactured chemicals is increasing, although little is known about the risks associated with the frequency and extent of human exposure to most chemicals. The EPA and the recent signing of the Lautenberg Act have both signaled the need for high-throughput methods to characterize and screen chemicals based on exposure potential, such that more comprehensive toxicity research can be informed. Prior work of Mitchell et al. using multicriteria decision analysis tools to prioritize chemicals for further research is enhanced here, resulting in a high-level chemical prioritization tool for risk-based screening. Reliable exposure information is a key gap in currently available engineering analytics to support predictive environmental and health risk assessments. An elicitation with 32 experts informed relative prioritization of risks from chemical properties and human use factors, and the values for each chemical associated with each metric were approximated with data from EPA's CP_CAT database. Three different versions of the model were evaluated using distinct weight profiles, resulting in three different ranked chemical prioritizations with only a small degree of variation across weight profiles. Future work will aim to include greater input from human factors experts and better define qualitative metrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Wood
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Concord, MA, USA
| | | | - Sabrina Larkin
- Contractor to U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Concord, MA, USA
| | - Peter P Egeghy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, RTP, NC, USA
| | - Antony J Williams
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Computational Toxicology Center, RTP, NC, USA
| | - Valerie Zemba
- Contractor to U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Concord, MA, USA
| | - Igor Linkov
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Concord, MA, USA
| | - Daniel A Vallero
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, RTP, NC, USA
- Duke University, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Durham, NC, USA
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15
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Oguzcan S, Dvarioniene J, Tugnoli A, Kruopiene J. Environmental impact assessment model for substitution of hazardous substances by using life cycle approach. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 254:112945. [PMID: 31377337 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.07.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Regulations that are indirectly driving the substitution of hazardous chemicals, such as the EU REACH regulation, necessitate improvements in chemical alternatives assessment frameworks. In those frameworks, life cycle thinking lacks some important aspects such as systematic and quantitative occupational safety methods and risks from intermediate chemicals that are not released to the environment under normal operating conditions. Concerns of companies about regulatory drivers regarding substances of very high concern often lead to inadequate evaluation of the baseline situation; an issue also overlooked by the frameworks. Moreover, life cycle assessment is optional for assessors with limited resources, such as small and medium enterprises. However, the success of substitution should not be evaluated without life cycle concerns. An environmental impact assessment model has been suggested to overcome these shortcomings of the chemical alternatives assessment frameworks. The model was applied to a case study of primed metal sheet production, where the company was driven to substitute reprotoxic 2-methoxypropanol used in their formulations. The results show that the proposed model is promising for solving the mentioned shortcomings, informing the assessor about substances of very high concern along the life cycle, and it has the potential to be further improved with the help of supporting software and databases. Particularly, in the occupational safety area that concerns risks of accidents at work, improvements to the EU occupational health database can drastically increase the accuracy of the assessments. Besides, the development of methodologies for the quantification of the impacts of reprotoxic, bioaccumulative and endocrine disruptor substances is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semih Oguzcan
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Kaunas University of Technology, Gedimino Str. 50-311, Kaunas, Lithuania.
| | - Jolanta Dvarioniene
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Kaunas University of Technology, Gedimino Str. 50-311, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Alessandro Tugnoli
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Umberto Terracini, 28, 40131 Bologna, Italy
| | - Jolita Kruopiene
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Kaunas University of Technology, Gedimino Str. 50-311, Kaunas, Lithuania
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16
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Fadeel B, Farcal L, Hardy B, Vázquez-Campos S, Hristozov D, Marcomini A, Lynch I, Valsami-Jones E, Alenius H, Savolainen K. Advanced tools for the safety assessment of nanomaterials. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 13:537-543. [PMID: 29980781 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-018-0185-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have tremendous potential to produce beneficial technological impact in numerous sectors in society. Safety assessment is, of course, of paramount importance. However, the myriad variations of ENM properties makes the identification of specific features driving toxicity challenging. At the same time, reducing animal tests by introducing alternative and/or predictive in vitro and in silico methods has become a priority. It is important to embrace these new advances in the safety assessment of ENMs. Indeed, remarkable progress has been made in recent years with respect to mechanism-based hazard assessment of ENMs, including systems biology approaches as well as high-throughput screening platforms, and new tools are also emerging in risk assessment and risk management for humans and the environment across the whole life-cycle of nano-enabled products. Here, we highlight some of the key advances in the hazard and risk assessment of ENMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bengt Fadeel
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Danail Hristozov
- Department of Biology, University of Venice Ca Foscari, Venice, Italy
| | - Antonio Marcomini
- Department of Biology, University of Venice Ca Foscari, Venice, Italy
| | - Iseult Lynch
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Eugenia Valsami-Jones
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Harri Alenius
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kai Savolainen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
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17
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Stone V, Führ M, Feindt PH, Bouwmeester H, Linkov I, Sabella S, Murphy F, Bizer K, Tran L, Ågerstrand M, Fito C, Andersen T, Anderson D, Bergamaschi E, Cherrie JW, Cowan S, Dalemcourt JF, Faure M, Gabbert S, Gajewicz A, Fernandes TF, Hristozov D, Johnston HJ, Lansdown TC, Linder S, Marvin HJP, Mullins M, Purnhagen K, Puzyn T, Sanchez Jimenez A, Scott-Fordsmand JJ, Streftaris G, van Tongeren M, Voelcker NH, Voyiatzis G, Yannopoulos SN, Poortvliet PM. The Essential Elements of a Risk Governance Framework for Current and Future Nanotechnologies. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2018; 38:1321-1331. [PMID: 29240986 DOI: 10.1111/risa.12954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Societies worldwide are investing considerable resources into the safe development and use of nanomaterials. Although each of these protective efforts is crucial for governing the risks of nanomaterials, they are insufficient in isolation. What is missing is a more integrative governance approach that goes beyond legislation. Development of this approach must be evidence based and involve key stakeholders to ensure acceptance by end users. The challenge is to develop a framework that coordinates the variety of actors involved in nanotechnology and civil society to facilitate consideration of the complex issues that occur in this rapidly evolving research and development area. Here, we propose three sets of essential elements required to generate an effective risk governance framework for nanomaterials. (1) Advanced tools to facilitate risk-based decision making, including an assessment of the needs of users regarding risk assessment, mitigation, and transfer. (2) An integrated model of predicted human behavior and decision making concerning nanomaterial risks. (3) Legal and other (nano-specific and general) regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and to stimulate proactive approaches to safety. The implementation of such an approach should facilitate and motivate good practice for the various stakeholders to allow the safe and sustainable future development of nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Führ
- Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Department of Social and Cultural Sciences, Society for Institutional Analysis (Sofia), Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Peter H Feindt
- Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Bouwmeester
- Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- RIKILT Wageningen UR, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Igor Linkov
- Carnegie Mellon University and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Concord, MA, USA
| | | | - Finbarr Murphy
- Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Kilian Bizer
- Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Lang Tran
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marlene Ågerstrand
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carlos Fito
- Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística (ITENE), Spain
| | | | | | - Enrico Bergamaschi
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - John W Cherrie
- Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sue Cowan
- Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Michael Faure
- Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Erasmus School of Law, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Silke Gabbert
- Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Agnieszka Gajewicz
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemometrics, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Martin Mullins
- Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Kai Purnhagen
- Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tomasz Puzyn
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemometrics, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Nicolas H Voelcker
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - George Voyiatzis
- Foundation for Research & Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (FORTH/ICE-HT), Patras, Greece
| | - Spyros N Yannopoulos
- Foundation for Research & Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (FORTH/ICE-HT), Patras, Greece
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18
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Linkov I, Trump BD, Anklam E, Berube D, Boisseasu P, Cummings C, Ferson S, Florin MV, Goldstein B, Hristozov D, Jensen KA, Katalagarianakis G, Kuzma J, Lambert JH, Malloy T, Malsch I, Marcomini A, Merad M, Palma-Oliveira J, Perkins E, Renn O, Seager T, Stone V, Vallero D, Vermeire T. Comparative, collaborative, and integrative risk governance for emerging technologies. ENVIRONMENT SYSTEMS & DECISIONS 2018; 38:170-176. [PMID: 37829286 PMCID: PMC10569133 DOI: 10.1007/s10669-018-9686-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Various emerging technologies challenge existing governance processes to identify, assess, and manage risk. Though the existing risk-based paradigm has been essential for assessment of many chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear technologies, a complementary approach may be warranted for the early-stage assessment and management challenges of high uncertainty technologies ranging from nanotechnology to synthetic biology to artificial intelligence, among many others. This paper argues for a risk governance approach that integrates quantitative experimental information alongside qualitative expert insight to characterize and balance the risks, benefits, costs, and societal implications of emerging technologies. Various articles in scholarly literature have highlighted differing points of how to address technological uncertainty, and this article builds upon such knowledge to explain how an emerging technology risk governance process should be driven by a multi-stakeholder effort, incorporate various disparate sources of information, review various endpoints and outcomes, and comparatively assess emerging technology performance against existing conventional products in a given application area. At least in the early stages of development when quantitative data for risk assessment remain incomplete or limited, such an approach can be valuable for policymakers and decision makers to evaluate the impact that such technologies may have upon human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Linkov
- Risk & Decision Science Team, Environmental Risk Assessment Branch, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Benjamin D Trump
- Risk & Decision Science Team, Environmental Risk Assessment Branch, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Elke Anklam
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - David Berube
- Center for Genetic Engineering in Society, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Scott Ferson
- Institute for Risk and Uncertainty, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jennifer Kuzma
- Center for Genetic Engineering in Society, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - James H Lambert
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Society for Risk Analysis, McLean, VA, USA
| | - Timothy Malloy
- University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ineke Malsch
- Malsch TechnoValuation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Myriam Merad
- UMR ESPACE and UMR LAMSADE PSL, CNRS, Paris, France
| | | | - Edward Perkins
- Risk & Decision Science Team, Environmental Risk Assessment Branch, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Ortwin Renn
- Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | | | - Daniel Vallero
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Theo Vermeire
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Utrecht, The Netherlands
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19
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Finkel AM, Gray G. Taking the reins: how regulatory decision-makers can stop being hijacked by uncertainty. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10669-018-9681-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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20
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Lin X, Yu S, Ma H. Integrative Application of Life Cycle Assessment and Risk Assessment to Environmental Impacts of Anthropogenic Pollutants at a Watershed Scale. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2018; 100:41-48. [PMID: 29275526 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-017-2257-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Intense human activities have led to increasing deterioration of the watershed environment via pollutant discharge, which threatens human health and ecosystem function. To meet a need of comprehensive environmental impact/risk assessment for sustainable watershed development, a biogeochemical process-based life cycle assessment and risk assessment (RA) integration for pollutants aided by geographic information system is proposed in this study. The integration is to frame a conceptual protocol of "watershed life cycle assessment (WLCA) for pollutants". The proposed WLCA protocol consists of (1) geographic and environmental characterization mapping; (2) life cycle inventory analysis; (3) integration of life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) with RA via characterization factor of pollutant of interest; and (4) result analysis and interpretation. The WLCA protocol can visualize results of LCIA and RA spatially for the pollutants of interest, which might be useful for decision or policy makers for mitigating impacts of watershed development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shen Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
| | - Hwongwen Ma
- National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, China
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21
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Hjorth R. The shortfall of risk assessment for decision-making. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 12:1109-1110. [PMID: 29209011 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2017.232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rune Hjorth
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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22
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Trump BD. Synthetic biology regulation and governance: Lessons from TAPIC for the United States, European Union, and Singapore. Health Policy 2017; 121:1139-1146. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2017.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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