Page 184 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

170 R.K. Rosenbaum et al.

• Relative expressions of potential impacts associated with the life cycle of a
reference flow needed to support a unit of function (=functional unit)
• Based on inventory data that are integrated over space and time, and thus often
occurring at different locations and over different time horizons
• Based on impact assessment data which lack information about the specific
conditions of the exposed environment (e.g. the concomitant exposure to sub-
stances from other product systems)

Terminology and definitions are given in Table 10.1.

Table 10.1 Essential terminology and definitions
Term Definition Source
Area of A cluster of category endpoints of recognisable value Hauschild and
protection to society. Examples are human health, natural Huijbregts (2015)
resources and natural environment.
Category Quantifiable representation of an impact category ISO (2006b)
indicator
Category Attribute or aspect of natural environment, human ISO (2006b)
endpoint health or resources, identifying an environmental issue
giving cause for concern
Characterisation Reflect the environmental mechanism by describing ISO (2006b)
model the relationship between the LCI results, category
indicators and, in some cases, category endpoint(s).
The characterisation model is used to derive the
characterisation factors.
Characterisation Factor derived from a characterisation model which is ISO (2006b)
factor applied to convert an assigned life cycle inventory
analysis result to the common unit of the category
indicator
Ecosphere The biosphere of the earth, especially when the Oxford Dictionary
interaction between the living and non-living of English
components is emphasised
Elementary flow Material or energy entering the system being studied ISO (2006b)
that has been drawn from the environment without
previous human transformation, or material or energy
leaving the system being studied that is released into
the environment without subsequent human
transformation
Environmental Potential impact on the natural environment, human EC-JRC (2010a)
impact health or the depletion of natural resources, caused by
the interventions between the technosphere and the
ecosphere as covered by LCA (e.g. emissions, resource
extraction, land use)
Environmental System of physical, chemical and biological processes ISO (2006b)
mechanism for a given impact category, linking the life cycle
inventory analysis results to category indicators and to
category endpoints
(continued)