Page 249 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

4.5 Impact Categories, Impact Indicators and Characterisation Factors 233

,
Other methods address the biodiversity 157) or a set of soil parameters 158) 159) in
order to quantify impacts of land use. A proposal for a systematic classification of
inventory data useful for all impact assessment methods is published by Koellner
et al. 160)
The most important result of this high level debate is probably that more
research and experience will be necessary in LCAs for this important category
to be comprehensively and practicably integrated into the impact assessment.
Theoretical models are inevitable for a clarification of terms but cannot replace
applicable indicators in LCA with respect to impact assessment (LCIA).

4.5.2
Output-Based Impact Categories (Global and Regional Impacts)

4.5.2.1 Overview
Output-related impact categories are those which do not assess the consumption of
natural goods but the loads in the environment by releases from the technosphere
in a wider sense 161) (stressors, interventions). This is supplemented by threats
to human health and nuisances. Categories which describe global or regional
impacts are particularly important. Within these there is a pretty good international
agreement on indicators and characterisation models, especially in the case of
climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion. 162)
Categories of global–regional, in some cases also of local impact characteristic
are (see also Table 4.2):

1. climate change (global)
2. stratospheric ozone depletion (global)
3. formation of photooxidants (continental/regional/local)
4. acidification (continental/regional/local)
5. eutrophication (continental/regional/local).

The reasons for an overall acceptance of indicators and characterisation models of
global impacts (1 and 2) should be based on the following:

• For global impacts the location of the releases can be neglected.
• Proposals for quantification have been elaborated by recommended scientific
committees (IPCC, WMO) for a selection of indicators and characterisation
models that can be adopted for use in LCIA.
• For individual partial impacts causal chains have been experimentally detected
or at least been made very probable.

157) de Baan, Alkemade and Koellner (2013).
158) Baitz (2002).
159) Saad et al. (2011).
160) Koellner et al. (2013a).
161) Releases in a more narrow sense are defined as ‘emissions to air and discharges to water and
soil’.
162) Kl¨ opffer et al. (2001a), Potting et al. (2001, 2002) and Udo de Haes et al. (2002).