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Tsalidis GA, Soeteman-Hernández LG, Noorlander CW, Saedy S, van Ommen JR, Vijver MG, Korevaar G. Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design Framework Based on a Prospective Life Cycle Assessment: Lessons Learned from a Nano-Titanium Dioxide Case Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:4241. [PMID: 35409922 PMCID: PMC8998679 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) is a concept that takes a systems approach by integrating safety, sustainability, and functionality throughout a product's the life cycle. This paper proposes a framework based on a prospective life cycle assessment for early safety and sustainability assessment. The framework's purpose is to identify environmental sustainability and toxicity hotspots early in the innovation process for future SSbD applicability. If this is impossible, key performance indicators are assessed. Environmental sustainability aspects, such as global warming potential (GWP) and cumulative energy demand (CED), and toxicity aspects, such as human toxicity potential and freshwater ecotoxicity potential, were assessed upon applying the framework on a case study. The case study regarded using nano-titanium dioxide (P25-TiO2) or a modified nano-coated version (Cu2O-coated/P25-TiO2) as photocatalysts to produce hydrogen from water using sunlight. Although there was a decrease in environmental impact (GWP and CED), the modified nano-coated version had a relatively higher level of human toxicity and freshwater eco-toxicity. For the presented case study, SSbD alternatives need to be considered that improve the photocatalytic activity but are not toxic to the environment. This case study illustrates the importance of performing an early safety and environmental sustainability assessment to avoid the development of toxic alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Archimidis Tsalidis
- Engineering Systems and Services Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands;
- Department of Biotechnology, Applied Sciences Faculty, Delft University of Technology, 92629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Lya G. Soeteman-Hernández
- Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; (L.G.S.-H.); (C.W.N.)
| | - Cornelle W. Noorlander
- Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; (L.G.S.-H.); (C.W.N.)
| | - Saeed Saedy
- Chemical Engineering Department, Applied Sciences Faculty, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands; (S.S.); (J.R.v.O.)
| | - J. Ruud van Ommen
- Chemical Engineering Department, Applied Sciences Faculty, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands; (S.S.); (J.R.v.O.)
| | - Martina G. Vijver
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Gijsbert Korevaar
- Engineering Systems and Services Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands;
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Nizam NUM, Hanafiah MM, Woon KS. A Content Review of Life Cycle Assessment of Nanomaterials: Current Practices, Challenges, and Future Prospects. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11123324. [PMID: 34947673 PMCID: PMC8708326 DOI: 10.3390/nano11123324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This paper provides a comprehensive review of 71 previous studies on the life cycle assessment (LCA) of nanomaterials (NMs) from 2001 to 2020 (19 years). Although various studies have been carried out to assess the efficiency and potential of wastes for nanotechnology, little attention has been paid to conducting a comprehensive analysis related to the environmental performance and hotspot of NMs, based on LCA methodology. Therefore, this paper highlights and discusses LCA methodology’s basis (goal and scope definition, system boundary, life cycle inventory, life cycle impact assessment, and interpretation) to insights into current practices, limitations, progress, and challenges of LCA application NMs. We found that there is still a lack of comprehensive LCA study on the environmental impacts of NMs until end-of-life stages, thereby potentially supporting misleading conclusions, in most of the previous studies reviewed. For a comprehensive evaluation of LCA of NMs, we recommend that future studies should: (1) report more detailed and transparent LCI data within NMs LCA studies; (2) consider the environmental impacts and potential risks of NMs within their whole life cycle; (3) adopt a transparent and prudent characterization model; and (4) include toxicity, uncertainty, and sensitivity assessments to analyze the exposure pathways of NMs further. Future recommendations towards improvement and harmonization of methodological for future research directions were discussed and provided. This study’s findings redound to future research in the field of LCA NMs specifically, considering that the release of NMs into the environment is yet to be explored due to limited understanding of the mechanisms and pathways involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Umairah M. Nizam
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Marlia M. Hanafiah
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia;
- Centre for Tropical Climate Change System, Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
| | - Kok Sin Woon
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia, Jalan Sunsuria, Bandar Sunsuria, Sepang 43900, Selangor, Malaysia;
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Pini M, Scarpellini S, Rosa R, Neri P, Gualtieri AF, Ferrari AM. Management of Asbestos Containing Materials: A Detailed LCA Comparison of Different Scenarios Comprising First Time Asbestos Characterization Factor Proposal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12672-12682. [PMID: 34468140 PMCID: PMC8459455 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
This work addresses the complex issue of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) management, by focusing on the scenario of six municipalities comprised in the Reggio Emilia province of Emilia Romagna Italian region. Particularly, the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was applied in order to assess in a quantitative and reliable manner the human toxicity as well as the ecotoxicity impacts associated with all of the different phases of ACMs management. The latter comprises mapping of ACMs, creation of a risk map for defining priority of intervention, encapsulation and removal of ACMs, as well as the as obtained asbestos containing waste (ACW) end of life. Particularly, a thermal inertisation treatment performed in a continuous industrial furnace was considered as the innovative end of life scenario to be compared with what actually was provided by the legislation of many countries worldwide, that is, the disposal of ACW in a controlled landfill for hazardous wastes. A characterization factor for asbestos fibers released both in outdoor air and in occupational setting was proposed for the first time and included in the USEtox 2.0 impact assessment method. This allowed us to reliably and quantitatively highlight that inertisation treatments should be the preferred solutions to be adopted by local and national authorities, especially if the obtained inert material finds application as secondary raw materials, thus contributing to a decrease in the environmental damage (limited to its toxicological contributions) to be associated with asbestos management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Pini
- Department
of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Amendola 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Interdepartmental
Center En&Tech, University of Modena
and Reggio Emilia, Via
G. Amendola, 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Simone Scarpellini
- Department
of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Amendola 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Roberto Rosa
- Department
of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Amendola 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Interdepartmental
Center En&Tech, University of Modena
and Reggio Emilia, Via
G. Amendola, 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Phone: +390522523558;
| | - Paolo Neri
- Department
of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Amendola 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessandro F. Gualtieri
- Department
of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University
of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 103, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Ferrari
- Department
of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Amendola 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Interdepartmental
Center En&Tech, University of Modena
and Reggio Emilia, Via
G. Amendola, 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Temizel-Sekeryan S, Hicks AL. Cradle-to-grave environmental impact assessment of silver enabled t-shirts: Do nano-specific impacts exceed non nano-specific emissions? NANOIMPACT 2021; 22:100319. [PMID: 35559976 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2021.100319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Consumption of silver nanoparticles (nAg) is increasing due to their use in various industries. A comprehensive analysis is needed to elucidate the potential environmental and human health benefits and costs of the silver-enabled consumer products. For this purpose, four commercially available silver/nanosilver enabled polyester textiles with different initial silver/nanosilver loadings (1.07-4030 μg Ag/g textile) are included in the current research and cradle-to-grave life cycle assessments (LCA) are conducted to identify hotspots associated with production and use of these products throughout their lifetimes (100 cycles). Both non nano-specific and nano-specific impacts are calculated using nano-specific ecotoxicity characterization factors for nAg, instead of the commonly utilized ionic silver (Ag+) surrogate. Additionally, four different laundering scenarios were modeled to analyze the impacts resulting from using conventional and high efficiency machines. In the majority of environmental impact categories, either polyester textile manufacturing (regardless of Ag/nAg enabling) or laundering were identified as hotspots. Non nano-specific ecotoxicity impacts ranged from 1.58 × 101-2.91 × 101 CTUe/textile (CTUe: comparative toxic units for ecosystems) and nano-specific ecotoxicity impacts ranged from 2.01 × 10-4-3.10 × 10-3 CTUe/textile for the lowest and the highest Ag/nAg containing textiles, respectively. It is also found that unless the initial silver loading per textile is significantly high (in this case 4030 μg Ag/g textile comparing to the lowest load of 1.07 μg Ag/g textile), ecotoxicity and human health impacts of released silver species would be lower than ecotoxicity and human health impacts resulting from raw materials acquisition and manufacturing of the antibacterial textiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sila Temizel-Sekeryan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Andrea L Hicks
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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