Critical Review of Eutrophication Models for Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

This paper evaluates the current state of life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods used to estimate potential eutrophication impacts in freshwater and marine ecosystems and presents a critical review of the underlying surface water quality, watershed, marine, and air fate and transport (F&T) models. Using a criteria rubric, we assess the potential of each method and model to contribute to further refinements of life cycle assessment (LCA) eutrophication mechanisms and nutrient transformation processes as well as model structure, availability, geographic scope, and spatial and temporal resolution. We describe recent advances in LCIA modeling and provide guidance on the best available sources of fate and exposure factors, with a focus on midpoint indicators. The critical review identifies gaps in LCIA characterization modeling regarding the availability and spatial resolution of fate factors in the soil compartment and identifies strategies to characterize emissions from soil. Additional opportunities are identified to leverage detailed F&T models that strengthen existing approaches to LCIA or that have the potential to link LCIA modeling more closely with the spatial and temporal realities of the effects of eutrophication.

Considering the Role of Life Cycle Analysis in Holistic Food Systems Research Policy and Practice

“…This variety of approaches demonstrates that there is not a consistent and correct way to account for eutrophication potential across studies. This problem is largely a result of the difficulty and ambiguity in delineating a clear system boundary for an agricultural production system (Morelli et al, 2018). There is a tendency to shrink system boundaries rather than expand them, as this allows for easier data collection and more certainty in the assessment performed.…”

“…Addressing geospatial variability in LCA may be improved by the utilization of fate and transport models to estimate how inputs are dispersed in the surrounding ecosystem (Morelli et al 2018). However, the application of fate and transport models to current practices will only point out hotspots for implementation of best management, not assist with resolving differences between efficiency and resilience.…”

La Eutrofización acuática y terrestre como categorías de impacto regional

“…Es por ello que a la hora de evaluar los impactos es necesario contar con factores que caractericen el efecto potencial que la intervención ambiental tiene en un sitio y no en otro. Asimismo, para garantizar que los resultados de un ACV sean coherentes, los métodos y sus modelos deben actualizarse continuamente y la tendencia es regionalizar CFs (Morelli et al, 2018;Civit, 2009;Potting & Hauschild, 2006).…”

Anthropogenic Activities Destabilized Bacterial Co-occurrence Networks in a Subtropical River

“…Since the 1960s, excess nutrients have been discharged into aquatic environments due to the anthropogenic activities, leading to eutrophication in aquatic environments worldwide [7,8]. Eutrophication has been recognized as one of the major threats to global aquatic ecosystems [9]. Previous studies in assessment of global rivers indicated that nutrients and pathogens were two principal categories of human-induced pollutants within rivers [1].…”