ILCD Handbook: Framework and requirements for LCIA models and ...

ILCD Handbook: Framework and requirements for LCIA models and indicators First edition
external irradiation
due to water
Gy/day per Bq/kg
freshwater
radioactive releases
internal irradiation due
to bioaccumulation
Gy/day per Bq/kg
BCF L/kg
Algae
crustacae
fish
Damage on ecosystems
sediment
external irradiation
due to sediments
Gy/day per Bq/kg
Figure 4-7 Overview of impact pathway on ecosystem for radioactive releases to freshwater.
Solid lines refer to physical transfers of radioactive substances, whereas dotted
lines correspond to exposures of radioactive radiation.
4.5.2 Criteria for Evaluation of this impact category
Since currently only a single method is presently considered relevant for each of the
ionizing radiation subcategories, no detailed criteria-based comparison is planned as with the
other impact categories. Hence no specific criteria have been developed for this impact
category. Instead the evaluation is focused on the level of quality reached by the available
methods within each main criterion.
4.6 Photochemical ozone formation
4.6.1 Framework and scope
The negative impacts from the photochemically generated pollutants are due to their
reactive nature which enables them to oxidise organic molecules on the surfaces they
expose. Impacts on humans arise when the ozone and other reactive oxygen compounds
are inhaled and come into contact with the surface of the respiratory tract, where they
damage tissue and cause respiratory diseases. Impacts on vegetation arise when the
reactive compounds attack the surfaces of the plants or enter the stomata of the plant
leaves, and cause oxidative damage on photosynthetic organelles. Impacts on man-made
materials are caused by oxidation and damage to many types of organic materials which are
exposed to ambient air. NB: the man-made environment is not considered in the
recommendations, and therefore the effects on man-made materials will not be considered
further.
The reaction scheme underlying the impact pathway is highly complex and depends on
the formula of the concrete VOC, but it can be summarised as:
4 Requirements for specific impact categories 51