Wood in Our Future: The Role of Life-Cycle Analysis Proceedings of a Symposium (1997) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
ANNEX 1: LIFE-CYCLE STRESSOR EFFECTS ASSESSMENT
ANNEX 1: LIFE-CYCLE STRESSOR EFFECTS ASSESSMENT
Pages 117-123
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 117... ...
As described in the standard, life-cycle analysis users must be cautioned that such an approach cannot, in and of itself, provide an accurate portrayal, or even an approximation, of the actual effects caused by the industrial system being studied. The standard further advises life-cycle analysis users that, to understand the actual environmental effects of a system, the findings should be considered in conjunction with environmental data typically generated by site-oriented environmental assessments, such as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
|
From page 118... ...
USEFUL COMPONENTS OF LCI As described in Figure A-1, the physical boundaries of the LCSEA unit operation generally correspond with the boundaries of a standard LCI unit operation. Appropriately aggregated input and output data associated with the standard LCI unit operation provide the initial set of useful data for the LCSEA unit operation.
|
From page 119... ...
It is the inclusion of these environmental data that transforms lifecycle analysis from a tool used simply to model potential impacts into a tool that assesses the actual effects of a system. Environmental data describe the spatial, temporal, threshold, and dose-response characteristics of input-output values and effects indicator values with respect to their relevant stressor effects networks.
|
From page 120... ...
In such cases, environmental data provide the sole route for identifying relevant stressor effects networks, thereby triggering the need to create new LCSEA unit operations. NEW CALCULATIONS REQUIRED FOR THE LCSEA UNIT OPERATION The new components of the LCSEA unit operation described above make possible, for the first time, the ability to · determine the significance and contribution of each raw input-output data point to actual effects, · identify specific nodes in the stressor effects networks associated with a given unit operation and quantify the magnitudes of their respective effects indicators, .
|
From page 121... ...
CRITICAL TERMS AND DEFINITIONS FOR ANNEX 1 Raw Input-Output Data The amount of material or energy used or the amount of releases into air, water, or ground from a given unit operation, without regard to any specific environmental effects. Effects Indicator A physical, chemical, or biologic measure of a specific node within a recognized stressor effect network.
|
From page 122... ...
Environmental Data The data needed to classify, characterize, or normalize input-output data, or to quantify effects indicators, for each stressor effects network associated with a given unit operation. Endpoint Effect The explicit measurable or observable effect in the environment which identifies the assessment endpoint as relevant and meaningful and allows the significance of the impact assessment results to be evaluated.
|
From page 123... ...
Sensitivity Analysis A systematic process to define and evaluate the effect of variations of inventory and model data input on the impact assessment result. Uncertainty Analysis A systematic process for defining and evaluating the sources of error and uncertainty in the impact assessment process, including the linkage of stressor effects networks and their inherent characteristics, such as space, time, dose response, and threshold.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.