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

ILCD Handbook: Framework and requirements for LCIA models and indicators First edition
Figure 4-10 Flow diagram for acidification impact category.
4.7.2 Criteria for Evaluation of this impact category
Next to the general criteria described in Chapter 2, the main criteria ‗Environmental
relevance‘ and ‗scientific robustness‘, have been specified by 9 sub criteria:
Atmospheric fate and transport is considered.
Only deposition of acidifying chemicals on land is considered, while ocean is
disregarded.
For damages on biodiversity/bioproductivity, a fate sensitivity factor discriminating
between sensitive and insensitive areas is considered.
Sensitive areas include areas with limited buffer capacity, in addition to the areas at
critical load (insensitive ones do not contribute).
Sensitive areas consider areas above critical load, i.e. the magnitude of the deposition
above critical load is considered.
Acidification potential is considered at midpoint.
Dose response model for biodiversity/bioproductivity is considered at endpoint.
The model uses the latest data on (changes in) current emission levels.
The model addresses temporal changes for future emissions.
The table below presents the general and specific criteria for acidification identifying the
minimum score to be met (threshold value) and the most relevant criteria for the impact
category (importance).
Table 4-5 General and specific criteria for acidification with threshold value and importance.
ACIDIFICATION Check the following:
Introduction
Completeness
of scope
• Timeframe, discounting, etc.
• Marginal (M) or Average (A) defined, if not described
(ND)
• Total number of individual substances covered by
specific provided characterisation factors
• The impact indicator covers the majority of impact
mechanisms and relevant elementary flows for the AoP
Human Health
• The impact indicator covers the majority of impact
mechanisms and relevant elementary flows for the AoP
Natural Environment
• The impact indicator covers the majority of impact
mechanisms and relevant elementary flows for the AoP
Natural Resources
• The midpoint indicator is chosen in a way that all LCI are
appropriately aggregated as early as possible in the cause
effect chain
• The characterization model is adaptable to spatial and
temporal explicit evaluation
Threshold
(Minimum
score)
B H
Importance
(H-N)
4 Requirements for specific impact categories 58