Quantifying anthropogenic mobilization, flows (in product systems) and emissions of fixed nitrogen in process-based environmental life cycle assessment: rationale, methods and application to a life cycle inventory

PURPOSE: Anthropogenic perturbation of the nitrogen cycle is attracting increasing attention as an environmental concern. Here, we provide the rationale for independent treatment of reactive nitrogen as an impact category in process-based life cycle assessment, along with the necessary methods and characterization factors. METHODS: We provide a simplified methodology and develop characterization factors for all nitrogen-containing compounds on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) High Production Volume (HPV) Chemical List for which specific chemical formulae are available, as well as all nitrogen-containing flows in the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD). We subsequently validate the approach against previously published estimates for reactive nitrogen emissions at the consumer level that were generated using alternative methods/approaches. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: We derive a suite of over 2,000 characterization factors for nitrogen-containing compounds. Overall, the results generated by applying our method and characterization factors to the European Commission Basket-of-Products life cycle inventory data set are consistent with those observed from studies having a similar scope but different methodological approach. CONCLUSIONS: This outcome suggests that reactive nitrogen can, indeed, be systematically inventoried and aggregated in process-based LCA for the purpose of providing information for decision support, using the methods and characterization factors we propose.

PELLETIER Nathaniel;  LEIP Adrian; 

2014-07-08

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

JRC76435

0948-3349,   

http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11367-013-0622-0,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC76435,   

10.1007/s11367-013-0622-0,