Management of Asbestos Containing Materials: A Detailed LCA Comparison of Different Scenarios Comprising First Time Asbestos Characterization Factor Proposal

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.

Life Cycle Impact Assessment of Solution Combustion Synthesis of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and Its Comparison with More Conventional Strategies

“…In doing so, 100 km was assumed as a reasonable average distance. [44,45] Particularly, the road freight transportation by diesel EURO 6 (i. e., meeting the six and the last European Union emissions standard) [46] lorries, with two lorry capacities, i. e., 3.5-7.5 and 16-32 metric tons were considered. [44,45] The modelling of the processes was done by employing datasets of the Ecoinvent database (EID, version 3.8).…”

“…[44,45] Particularly, the road freight transportation by diesel EURO 6 (i. e., meeting the six and the last European Union emissions standard) [46] lorries, with two lorry capacities, i. e., 3.5-7.5 and 16-32 metric tons were considered. [44,45] The modelling of the processes was done by employing datasets of the Ecoinvent database (EID, version 3.8). [47,48] Particularly, an attributional approach was followed, [47] thus the "Allocation at the point of substitution" (i. e., APOS) system model was employed.…”

“…The environmental impact contribution of the transport of materials and equipment was also considered. In doing so, 100 km was assumed as a reasonable average distance [44,45] . Particularly, the road freight transportation by diesel EURO 6 (i. e., meeting the six and the last European Union emissions standard) [46] lorries, with two lorry capacities, i. e., 3.5–7.5 and 16–32 metric tons were considered [44,45] …”

Innovative Bioplasticizers from Residual Cynara cardunculus L. Biomass-Derived Levulinic Acid and Their Environmental Impact Assessment by LCA Methodology

“…38 A distance of 100 km was considered for transport contributions. Particularly, the road freight transport by diesel EURO 6 lorries was assumed with two different lorry capacities of 3.5−7.5 and 16−32 t. 40,41 The potential emissions to the atmosphere were also considered in the modeled chemical processes. Advanced process calculations were performed rather than the basic process ones.…”

“…A distance of 100 km was considered for transport contributions. Particularly, the road freight transport by diesel EURO 6 lorries was assumed with two different lorry capacities of 3.5–7.5 and 16–32 t. , …”