Life Cycle Management: LCA Methodology and Application

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1065/ehs2002.05.015
--- In order to quantify hazardous substance use in production
processes, a special methodology has been designed within
the context of the EcoGrade integrated environmental assessment
method developed by Öko-Institut, Institute for Applied Ecology.
This methodology uses mono ethylene glycol (MEG) equivalents
as an indicator value for hazardous substance use. MEG
equivalents permit direct, noxious-substance-focussed comparison
of processes and products (Bunke 2001). The assessment is
based upon the standardized risk phrases assigned to the component
substances. The MEG equivalent methodology is a refinement
and application of the potency factor model (Wirkfaktorenmodell)
of the German Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances
(Technische Regel für Gefahrstoffe, TRGS) 440 (AGS 2001). The
data required for the assessment procedure are available within
companies (safety data sheets) or are readily accessible publicly
(hazardous substance databanks).
A further benefit is that inventory analysis of hazardous substances
using the method presented here makes it possible to
take hazardous substance use into account in a systematic manner
within life-cycle assessment (LCA) studies. The methodology
has been tested for the example of residential buildings.
Note: The terms - hazardous substance, noxious substance and
hazardous constituent - are used in this paper in the sense of
substances that have one of the hazard attributes set out in Article
3 of the German Chemicals Act (Chemikaliengesetz).