Freshwater ecotoxicity characterisation factor for metal oxide nanoparticles: a case study on titanium dioxide nanoparticle.

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is widely applied in several industrial sectors to evaluate the environmental performance of processes, products and services. Recently, several reports and studies have emphasized the importance of LCA in the field of engineered nanomaterials. However, to date only a few LCA studies on nanotechnology have been carried out, and fewer still have assessed aspects relating to ecotoxicity. This is mainly due to the lack of knowledge in relation on human and environmental exposure and effect of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs). This bottleneck is continued when performing Life Cycle Impact Assessment, where characterization models and consequently characterization factors (CFs) for ENPs are missing. This paper aims to provide the freshwater ecotoxicity CF for titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2). The USEtox model has been selected as a characterisation model. An adjusted multimedia fate model has been developed which accounts for nano-specific fate process descriptors (i.e. sedimentation, aggregation with suspended particle matter, etc.) to estimate the fate of nano-TiO2 in freshwater. A literature survey of toxicity tests performed on freshwater organism representative of multiple trophic levels was conducted, including algae, crustaceans and fish in order to collect relevant EC50 values. Then, the toxic effect of nano-TiO2 was computed on the basis of the HC50 value. Thus, following the principle of USEtox model and accounting for nano-specific descriptors a CF for the toxic impact of freshwater ecotoxicity of 0.28 PAFdaym(3)kg(-1) is proposed.

Greenhouse gas reductions through enhanced use of residues in the life cycle of Malaysian palm oil derived biodiesel.

This study identifies the potential greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, which can be achieved by optimizing the use of residues in the life cycle of palm oil derived biodiesel. This is done through compilation of data on existing and prospective treatment technologies as well as practical experiments on methane potentials from empty fruit bunches. Methane capture from the anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent was found to result in the highest GHG reductions. Among the solid residues, energy extraction from shells was found to constitute the biggest GHG savings per ton of residue, whereas energy extraction from empty fruit bunches was found to be the most significant in the biodiesel production life cycle. All the studied waste treatment technologies performed significantly better than the conventional practices and with dedicated efforts of optimized use in the palm oil industry, the production of palm oil derived biodiesel can be almost carbon neutral.

Limits and prospects of the "incremental approach" and the European legislation on the management of risks related to nanomaterials.

Scientific uncertainty involved in evaluating potentially harmful properties of engineered nanoparticles complicates and hampers the implementation of proportionate regulative measures by legislators. The European Commission has adopted a so-called "incremental approach", which focuses on adapting existing laws to regulate nanotechnologies, and therefore this paper aims to test the effectiveness of the "incremental approach". Three commercially available products containing fullerenes (C(60) and carbon nanotubes) were analysed in a life cycle perspective in order to (1) map current applicable regulations, (2) analyse their applicability to nanomaterials, (3) identify their gaps, and (4) suggest proper solutions. After mapping the life cycle of the three products, we analysed applicable regulations in the order in which they became relevant in their life cycle, i.e.: The Safety at Workplace Directives. Directive 61/1996 on the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control. The European Union's Directive on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, and The Waste Management Directives. It was found that the applicability of environmental laws is limited due to difficulties in generating sufficient data on the nanomaterials residing in the products according to their life cycles. Further, metrology tools are unavailable; thresholds are not tailored to the nanoscale; and toxicological data and occupational exposure limits cannot be established with existing methodologies. We conclude that the "incremental approach" can only be applicable with the implementation of due amendments.