Search Results (49)

Agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contribute significantly to climate change and underline the importance of reliable measurements and mitigation strategies. This life cycle assessment (LCA)-based study evaluates the environmental impacts of four key Mediterranean agricultural products, namely olives, sweet potatoes, corn, and grapes using GHG measurements at four pilot fields located in different regions of Greece. With the use of a cradle-to-gate approach six environmental impact categories, more specifically acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), and cumulative energy demand (CED) as energy-based indicator are assessed. The functional unit used is 1 ha of cultivated land. Any potential carbon offsets from mitigation practices are assessed through an integrated low-carbon certification framework and the use of innovative, site-specific technologies. In this context, the present study evaluates three life cycle inventory (LCI)-based scenarios: Baseline (BS), which represents a 3-year crop production period; Field-based (FS), which includes on-site CO₂ and CH₄ measurements to assess the effects of mitigation practices; and Inventoried (IS), which relies on comprehensive datasets. The adoption of carbon mitigation practices under the FS scenario resulted in considerable reductions in environmental impacts for all pilot fields assessed, with average improvements of 8% for olive, 5.7% for sweet potato, 4.5% for corn, and 6.5% for grape production compared to the BS scenario. The uncertainty analysis indicates that among the LCI-based scenarios evaluated, the IS scenario exhibits the lowest variability, with coefficient of variation (CV) values ranging from 0.5% to 7.3%. In contrast, the FS scenario shows slightly higher uncertainty, with CVs reaching up to 15.7% for AP and 14.7% for EP impact categories in corn production. The incorporation of on-site GHG measurements improves the precision of environmental performance and supports the development of site-specific LCI data. This benchmark study has a noticeable transferability potential and contributes to the adoption of sustainable practices in other regions with similar characteristics. Full article

Innovative solutions are essential to meet the increasing demand for housing in New Zealand. These innovations must also be sustainable, given the significant contribution of the building and construction sectors to global carbon emissions (25–40%) and, specifically, to New Zealand’s gross carbon emissions (20%). This research aims to analyse the environmental impacts of a structural insulated panel (SIP) modular house and evaluate this innovative approach as a sustainable solution to the current housing issue. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted using the New Zealand-specific tool LCAQuick V3.6. The analysis considered seven environmental impact indicators, namely, global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), abiotic depletion potential for elements (ADPE), and abiotic depletion potential for fossil fuels (ADPF), with a cradle-to-cradle system boundary. Focusing on the embodied carbon of the SIP modular house, the study revealed that the whole-of-life embodied carbon was 347.15 kg CO₂ eq/m², including Module D, and the upfront carbon was 285.08 kg CO₂ eq/m². The production stage (Modules A1–A3) was identified as the most significant source of carbon emissions due to substantial energy consumption in activities such as sourcing raw materials, transportation, and final product manufacturing. Specifically, the study found that SIP wall and roof panels were the most significant contributors to the house’s overall embodied carbon, with SIP roof panels contributing 25% and SIP wall panels contributing 19%, collectively accounting for 44%. Hence, the study underscored the SIP modular house as a promising sustainable solution to the housing crisis while emphasising the inclusion of operational carbon in further research to fully understand its potential. Full article

The development of clean energy is a crucial strategy for combating climate change. However, the widespread adoption of wind power has led to significant challenges such as wind curtailment and power restrictions. A potential solution is the abandonment of onshore wind power for hydrogen production (AOWPHP). To ensure the sustainable development of clean energy, it is essential to assess the environmental impact of the AOWPHP. This study employs a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts of the AOWPHP using QDQ2-1 alkaline electrolyzer technology in China. Furthermore, a scenario analysis is conducted to project these environmental impacts over the next 30 years. The findings indicate the following: (1) The global warming potential (GWP) over the life cycle is 5614 kg CO₂-eq, the acidification potential (AP) is 26 kg SO₂-eq, the human toxicity potential (HTP) is 12 kg DCB-eq, and the photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) is 3.77 × 10⁻⁶ kg C₂H₄-eq. (2) Carbon emissions during the production stage significantly contribute to the environmental impact, with steel and concrete being notably polluting materials. The POCP shows high sensitivity at 0.97%, followed by the GWP and AP. (3) The scenario analysis indicates an upward trend in environmental impacts across low-speed, baseline, and high-speed development scenarios, with impacts peaking by 2050. For instance, under the high-development scenario in 2050, the GWP for each material reaches 41,808 kg CO₂-eq. To mitigate these impacts effectively, recommendations include reducing reliance on steel and concrete, developing green logistics, enhancing operational efficiency in wind farms and hydrogen production plants, and exploring new epoxy resin materials. These insights are crucial for promoting sustainable growth within the AOWPHP in China while reducing global carbon emissions. Full article

An estimate of the environmental impact of dairy farms in Northern Italy producing milk for hard cheese (protected designation of origin) has been obtained through a comprehensive life cycle assessment. The estimate focused on climate change (CC) and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) indicators, which were evaluated according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines and interpreted with the aid of the feeds’ composition evaluated using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (Foss NIR-System 5000) as well as with a diet evaluation according to the NRC (National Research Council) or the CNCPS (Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System) nutrient requirement modeling. Herds were classified into high-, mid-, and low-performing based on the daily milk yield per cow. A lower impact on indicators was observed as herd performance increased. The high-performing herds had a lower contribution from enteric fermentation (6.30 × 10⁻¹ kgCO₂-eq), and the more milk that they produced allowed for a differentiation of CC from land use and transformation (2.39 × 10⁻¹ kgCO₂-eq), compared to low-performing herds (3.66 × 10⁻¹ kgCO₂-eq). Compared to the IPCC approach, the CC and POCP indicator estimates were reduced when addressing the feed’s quality, particularly in mid- and high-performing herds. The results could be helpful in the dairy sector as they provide an insight into how diet quality affects the environmental impact of milk. Full article

Water contamination with various micropollutants is a serious environmental concern since this group of chemicals cannot always be removed efficiently with advanced treatment methods. Therefore, alternative chemical- and energy-intensive oxidation processes have been proposed for the removal of refractory and/or toxic chemicals. However, similar treatment performances might result in different environmental impacts. Environmental impacts can be determined by adopting a life cycle assessment methodology. In this context, lab-scale experimental data related to 100% iprodione (a hydantoin fungicide/nematicide selected as the model micropollutant at a concentration of 2 mg/L) removal from simulated tertiary treated urban wastewater (dissolved organic carbon content = 10 mg/L) with UV-C-activated persulfate treatment were studied in terms of environmental impacts generated during photochemical treatment through the application of a life cycle assessment procedure. Standard guidelines were followed in this procedure. Iprodione removal was achieved at varying persulfate concentrations and UV-C doses; however, an “optimum” treatment condition (0.03 mM persulfate, 0.5 W/L UV-C) was experimentally established for kinetically acceptable, 100% iprodione removal in distilled water and adopted to treat iprodione in simulated tertiary treated wastewater (total dissolved organic carbon of iprodione + tertiary wastewater = 11.2 mg/L). The study findings indicated that energy input was the major contributor to all the environmental impact categories, namely global warming, abiotic depletion (fossil and elements), acidification, eutrophication, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, human toxicity, ozone depletion, photochemical ozone creation, and terrestrial ecotoxicity potentials. According to the life cycle assessment results, a concentration of 21.42 mg/L persulfate and an electrical energy input of 1.787 kWh/m³ (Wh/L) UV-C light yielded the lowest undesired environmental impacts among the examined photochemical treatment conditions. Full article

Bioethanol, as a renewable energy source, has been widely used in the energy sector, particularly in replacing traditional petroleum energy, and holds great potential. This study involves a whole life cycle assessment of bioethanol production and the co-production of high-value by-products—xylose, lignin, and steam—using three types of waste biomass: corn cobs, corn straw, and wheat straw as feedstocks by chopping, pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation methods. Secondly, the benefits of three raw materials are compared for preparing bioethanol, and their impact on the environment and energy production is analyzed. The comparison indicates that corn cobs offer the best overall benefits, with a net energy balance (NEB) of 6902 MJ/Mg of ethanol and a net energy ratio (NER) of 1.30. The global warming potential (GWP) is 1.75 × 10⁻², acidification potential (AP) is 1.02 × 10⁻², eutrophication potential (EP) is 2.63 × 10⁻⁴, photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) is 3.19 × 10⁻⁸, and human toxicity potential (HTP) is 1.52 × 10⁻⁴. This paper can provide a theoretical reference and data supporting the green refining of bioethanol and the high-value utilization of by-products, and broaden its application prospects. Full article

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with their ubiquitous presence across numerous global industries, pose multifaceted challenges, influencing air pollution and health outcomes. In response, countries such as the United States and Canada have implemented fenceline monitoring systems, enabling real-time tracking of organic solvents, including benzene. Initially, this focus was predominantly placed on the petroleum refining industry, but it has gradually been broadening. This investigation seeks to identify and analyze the specific VOCs produced in the tire manufacturing sector by utilizing both active and passive monitoring methodologies. The findings of the present study aim to recommend prioritized reduction strategies for specific VOCs. Percentage means the ratio of VOCs detected at the research site. At research target facility A, active monitoring demonstrated the presence of Methylene chloride (20.7%) and Carbon tetrachloride (15.3%), whereas passive monitoring identified Carbon tetrachloride (43.4%) and m,p-Xylene (20.8%). After converting these substances to their equivalent concentrations, we found a noteworthy correlation between the active and passive methodologies. At research target facility B, active monitoring detected n-Pentane (45.5%) and Isoprene (11.4%), while passive monitoring revealed Toluene (21.3%) and iso-Hexane (15.8%). Interestingly, even at sites like warehouses and test tracks where VOC concentrations were projected to be low, we observed VOC levels comparable to those in process areas. This underlines the fact that the dispersal of VOCs is considerably influenced by wind direction and speed. Specifically, in the tire manufacturing industry, emissions of Xylene and 3-Methylhexane, both having high photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), contribute significantly to air pollution. However, the overall detection concentration in the tire manufacturing industry was detected at a low concentration of less than 2 μg/m³. This is less than 9 μg/m³, which is the standard for benzene, which has strong carcinogenicity regulations. This suggests that additional research is needed on synthetic rubber manufacturing rather than tire manufacturing. Full article

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are prevalent emissions from a plethora of industries, known for their role in the formation of atmospheric ozone, thus contributing to secondary pollution. Both the United States and the European Union have presented various regulatory measures to mitigate VOC emissions. Nevertheless, the diversity of VOCs, some exhibiting carcinogenic properties, pose substantial challenges in devising comprehensive mitigation strategies. In light of this, the current study focuses on the synthetic rubber manufacturing industry, specifically analyzing VOCs with high emission volumes and elevated Photochemical Ozone Creation Potentials (POCPs). A total of 88 compounds, including PM-57 and TO-14A, were examined in this study. The Active and Passive monitoring methods, two out of the six recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Fenceline monitoring, were employed. For business entity ‘A’, the Active method revealed the highest emission rates of n-butane (13.5%) and n-Pentane (12.8%). In contrast, the Passive method indicated styrene (9.4%) and toluene (8.1%) as the most prominently emitted compounds. Benzene, though detected at all points ranging from 1~3 µg/m³, is not manipulated in this industry, suggesting potential influence from neighboring enterprises. Compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene demonstrated convertible concentrations using both Active and Passive methods, detected within the range of 0~3 µg/m³. Notably, the average concentrations determined by both methods exhibited remarkable similarity. For business entity ‘B’, the Active method detected significant levels of n-hexane (45.0%) and methylcyclopentane (14.4%), whereas the Passive method identified high concentrations of n-hexane (37.7%) and isopentane (8.8%). A general pattern emerged where high concentrations were exhibited at points 9, 10, and 11, located within the production area, while points 1, 2, and 3 displayed lower concentrations, likely due to the influence of eastward wind patterns. In terms of compounds with high POCPs, business entity ‘A’ demonstrated substantial emission of n-butane (38.80%) and n-hexane (27.15%) using the Active method, and toluene (28.62%) and n-hexane (25.23%) via the Passive method. For business entity ‘B’, n-hexane emerged dominantly, detected at 84.57% using the Active method and 68.85% via the Passive method. This suggests that in the synthetic rubber manufacturing industry, n-hexane should be prioritized in formulating effective emission reduction strategies. Full article

In this study, the life cycle assessment (LCA) method has been used to evaluate the environmental impacts of various municipal solid waste (MSW) management system scenarios in Banepa municipality, Nepal, in terms of global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), human toxicity potential (HTP), abiotic depletion potential (ADP), and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP). There are at least six possible scenarios of MSW management in Banepa: the current or baseline scenario (Scenario 1); composting with landfilling (Scenario 2); material recovery facility (MRF) recycling, composting, and landfilling (Scenario 3); MRF and anaerobic digestion (AD); composting, and landfilling (Scenario 4); MRF, composting, AD, and landfilling (Scenario 5); and, finally, incineration with landfilling (Scenario 6). Using both information from Ecoinvent 3.6 (2019) and published research articles, a spreadsheet tool based on the LCA approach was created. The impact of the recycling rate on each of the six abovementioned scenarios was evaluated using sensitivity analysis, which showed that the recycling rate can considerably decrease the life-cycle emissions from the MSW management system. Scenario 3 was found to have the least overall environmental impact with a GWP of 974.82 kg CO₂ eq. per metric ton (t), EP of 0.04 kg PO₄ eq./t, AP of 0.15 kg SO₂ eq./t, HTP of 4.55 kg 1,4 DB eq./t, ADP of −0.03 kg Sb eq./t, and POCP of 0.06 kg C₂H₄ eq./t. By adoption of MRF and biological treatments such as composting and AD, environmental impact categories such as AP, EP, HTP, ADP, POCP, and GWP can be significantly reduced. The findings of this study can potentially serve as a reference for cities in the developing world in order to aid in both the planning and the operation of environmentally friendly MSW management systems. Full article

Buildings and constructions are responsible for a great amount of global energy and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Because of these negative impacts, there is an increase in Life cycle assessment research in the construction sector to measure these effects and evaluate the sustainability performances. Life cycle assessment is a tool that can facilitate the decision-making process in the construction sector for material selection, or for the selection of the best environmentally friendly option in the building component level or building level. In this study, a comparative life cycle assessment analysis is conducted among 12 roof coverings of 1 square meter in the 60-year lifetime of a building. Impact categories that are available in environmental product declarations and included in this study are the global warming potential, ozone depletion potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, photochemical ozone creation potential, abiotic depletion potential of non-fossils and abiotic depletion potential of fossils resources. To facilitate the decision-making process, panel and monetary weightings are applied to convert environmental product declaration data of seven impact categories into one single-score. Monetary weightings applied in the study are in Euro ₂₀₁₉, differentiating itself from other comparative life cycle assessment studies. The single-score results are ranked and compared. R04 has the best performance for all panel weightings, while for monetary weightings, R03, R07 and R08 have the best performance for EPS, MMG and EVR, respectively. As a result, for 12 roof coverings, the weighted results could not address one single roof-covering material for numerous reasons. Among the weighting methods, panel weighting sets show more similarity in ranking results, while monetary-weighting sets results are more diverse. Full article

Greenhouse gas emissions (i.e., carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) produced by agriculture contribute to global warming and climate change. Various practices followed by farmers in different environmental conditions contribute to the increase in the phenomena, and there is a need for immediate measures. The current study examines the environmental impact of barley production under rain-fed conditions in Cyprus. For this, four different nutrient management scenarios were investigated in order to evaluate the environmental performance of crop production, namely: (1) Nitrogen (20%), Phosphorous (20%), Potassium (10%); (2) Nitrogen (20%), Phosphorous (20%), Potassium (10%) and manure; (3) Nitrogen (25%), Phosphorous (10%), Potassium (0%); and (4) Nitrogen (25%), Phosphorous (10%), Potassium (0%) and manure. Data were collected from two different areas of Cyprus (Nicosia and Larnaca) through on-site visits and questionnaires. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used as a method to quantify environmental impacts which were categorized into six impact categories: (i) acidification potential (AP), (ii) eutrophication potential (EP), (iii) global warming potential (GWP), (iv) ozone depletion potential (ODP), (v) photochemical, ozone creation potential (POCP), and (vi) terrestrial ecotoxicity (TAETP). LCA was used with system boundaries from field to harvest and a functional unit (FU) of one bale of hay. Research results showed that the addition of manure increased values in all impact categories. Comparing scenarios without manure (1 and 3) and with manure (2 and 4), the main process which contributed to GWP was field preparation, which resulted in 3 t CO₂-Eq∙FU⁻¹ and 46.96 t CO₂-Eq∙FU⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, the highest contribution of sub-processes to GWP (kg CO₂-Eq∙FU⁻¹) was machinery maintenance (scenarios 2 and 4). The potential to reduce environmental impacts from barley and moreover, to mitigate the footprint of the agriculture sector in Cyprus is proposed by changing existing practices such as decreasing fuel consumption by agricultural machinery, and monitoring fertilizing and seeding. Conclusively, the carbon footprint of barley can be decreased through the improvement of nutrient management and cropping practices. Full article

This paper investigates the environmental impacts of two commonly used steel roofing and wall-cladding products in New Zealand over their life cycle, taking into consideration the recycling process. The recycling process of steel is in line with the Circular Economy (CE) approach, where the goal is to prolong the material’s lifetime and possibly reduce its environmental impacts and material waste. Although the benefit of recycling steel is well recognised, the environmental impact values of different specific steel products cannot be generalised and need to be estimated. For this, life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) were implemented to quantify the environmental impacts of the investigated steel products and to analyse the significance of the recycling process in reducing the impacts on the environment. This study considered modules C1–C4 and D to estimate the impacts of steel products. It was found that the recycled steel materials have an effect on reducing the environmental impacts, particularly the global warming potential (GWP) and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), both of which were negative and of −2.36 × 10⁶ kg CO₂eq and −8.10 × 10² kg C₂H₄eq, respectively. However, it is important to note that not all impacts were reduced by recycling steel, which creates trade-offs within each impact indicator. In addition, when compared with locally sourced material cladding, the imported material cladding had a 6% higher negative impact value for both GWP and POCP. Full article

The shift toward renewable energy resources, and photovoltaic systems specifically, has gained a huge focus in the past two decades. This study aimed to assess several environmental and economic impacts of a photovoltaic system that installed on the rooftop of an industrial facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The life cycle assessment method was employed to study all the flows and evaluate the environmental impacts, while several economic indicators were calculated to assess the feasibility and profitability of this photovoltaic system. The results showed that the production processes contributed the most to the environmental impacts, where the total primary energy demand was 1152 MWh for the whole photovoltaic system, the total global warming potential was 6.83 × 10^–2 kg CO₂-eq, the energy payback time was 2.15 years, the carbon dioxide payback time was 1.87 years, the acidification potential was 2.87 × 10^–4 kg SO₂-eq, eutrophication potential was 2.45 × 10^–5 kg PO₄³-eq, the ozone layer depletion potential was 4.685 × 10^–9 kgCFC-11-eq, the photochemical ozone creation potential was 3.81 × 10^–5 kg C₂H₄-eq, and the human toxicity potential was 2.38 × 10^–2 kg1,4-DB-eq for the defined function unit of the photovoltaic system, while the economic impact indicators for the whole system resulted in a 3.5 year payback period, the benefit to cost ratio of 11.8, and 0.142 AED/kWh levelized cost of electricity. This was the first study to comprehensively consider all of these impact indicators together. These findings are beneficial inputs for policy- and decision-makers, photovoltaic panel manufacturers, and photovoltaic contractors to enhance the sustainability of their processes and improve the environment. Full article

The rapid population growth and unplanned urbanization within Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) have induced land use and land cover (LULC) changes that have exacerbated problems of air pollution and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. These issues, as well as potential mitigations and possible counteractions, are currently under investigation by numerous research communities, resulting in various solutions being put forward including the creation of Urban Green Spaces (UGS). Establishing UGS would increase carbon dioxide extraction, minimizing photochemical ozone formation and liberation, while simultaneously cooling the microclimate of an area such as KMC. Optimized implementation of UGS throughout KMC requires an understanding of and prioritization of locations based on degraded air quality and the UHI effect. Unfortunately, such studies in these areas appear to be severely lacking, which has acted as a catalyst for this study. This research includes prioritization on two different spatial units—(i) at the administrative ward level and (ii) 0.0025° fishnet level. The result identifies the high-need locations where UGS establishment is recommended to mitigate air pollution and the UHI effect. Information obtained also heightened the existing UGS’s current sparsity and deplorable conditions. Findings from this study indicate that the utilization of rooftops are potential locations for new UGS, and enhancement of the existing UGS would prove to be an efficient use of currently underutilized spaces. Full article

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted to the atmosphere form ozone and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) by photochemical reactions. As they contain numerous harmful compounds such as carcinogens, it is necessary to analyze them from a health perspective. Given the petroleum-based organic solvents used during the drying process, large amounts of VOCs are emitted from small laundry facilities. In this study, a laundry facility located in a residential area was selected, while VOCs data emitted during the drying process were collected and analyzed using a thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (TD-GC/MS). We compared the results of the solvent composition, human risk assessment, contribution of photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), and secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAP) to evaluate the chemical species. Alkane-based compounds; the main components of petroleum organic solvents, were dominant. The differences in evaporation with respect to the boiling point were also discerned. The POCP contribution exhibited the same trend as the emission concentration ratios for nonane (41%), decane (34%), and undecane (14%). However, the SOAP contribution accounted for o-xylene (28%), decane (27%), undecane (25%), and nonane (9%), thus confirming the high contribution of o-xylene to SOA formation. The risk assessment showed that acrylonitrile, carbon tetrachloride, nitrobenzene, bromodichloromethane, and chloromethane among carcinogenic compounds, and bromomethane, chlorobenzene, o-xylene, and hexachloro-1, 3-butadiene were found to be hazardous, thereby excessing the standard value. Overall these results facilitate the selection and control of highly reactive and harmful VOCs emitted from the dry-cleaning process. Full article