Page 305 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

4.5 Impact Categories, Impact Indicators and Characterisation Factors 289

More recent work by Althaus et al. 352) extends the pioneering work of M¨ uller-
Wenk (2004). First of all, the authors analysed and evaluated five methods proposed
using the following set of criteria. 353) The method has to be applicable to

1. both generic and specific transports
2. different modes of transport
3. different vehicles within one mode
4. transports in different geographic contexts
5. different temporal contexts
6. and be compatible with the ISO LCA standards.

The result was that none of the methods fully complied with all criteria.
On the basis of the results of part 1 of the study, a new framework for the
inclusion of traffic noise has been developed. 354)
Among the three methods identified as best suited for further development, the
‘Swiss EPA method’, developed by M¨ uller-Wenk 355) , was chosen for a deeper analy-
sis. It should be noted that the study by Althaus et al. 356) deals predominantly with
the LCI-aspects of the problem and that the development of an appropriate impact
assessment method for noise (including, e.g. consequences of sleep disturbance)
is still on the agenda.
A completely different approach for a characterisation of noise by the fuzzy-sets-
method 357) is only indicated since it is unclear as to how the selected indicator can
be related to the fU.

4.5.5
Accidents and Radioactivity

4.5.5.1 Casualties
This impact category has been integrated into the category list by the first SETAC
working group for impact assessment 358) but no method for a characterisation
or quantification was proposed. It belongs to the categories to be considered if
two product systems strongly differ in this respect. A pre-study accomplished on
behalf of the UBA Berlin 359) clarifies the concept and provides a framework for a
methodical development. It remains to be clarified, whether (similar to toxic effects
in the workplace) a ‘product-related social life cycle assessment (SLCA)’ still under
development within a framework of a sustainability analysis 360) (see Chapter 6) is
the right place for casualties as an impact category. This discussion is of special

352) Althaus, de Haan and Scholz (2009a,b).
353) Althaus, de Haan and Scholz (2009a).
354) Althaus, de Haan and Scholz (2009b).
355) M¨ uller-Wenk (2002b, 2004).
356) Althaus, de Haan and Scholz (2009b).
357) Benetto, Dujet and Rousseaux (2006); to the use of Fuzzy sets (a numeric expert system) in LCA
see also Thiel et al. (1999), Weckenmann and Schwan (2001) and G¨ uereca et al. (2007).
358) Udo de Haes (1996).
359) Kurth et al. (2004).
360) Kl¨ opffer and Renner (2007).