Terminology Flashcards
Material
Substances and goods
MFA/SFA
Goods
Substances or mixtures of substances with economic value assigned
(MFA/SFA)
Substance
Single type of matter such as atoms or molecules
MFA/SFA
Process
Transport, transformation or storage of materials
MFA/SFA
Stocks
Material reservoirs in the system
MFA/SFA
Flow
Links processes (mass per time) (MFA/SFA)
Flux
– Links processes (mass per time and area)
MFA/SFA
Input
Flow or flux entering system
MFA/SFA
Output
Flow or flux leaving system
MFA/SFA
Transfer coefficient (TC)
Ratio between a part of the output and the total input
MFA/SFA
Functional unit
A measure of the function of the studied system that provides a reference to which the inputs and outputs can be related.
(LCA)
Marginal data
Data representing how the system reacts to changes. Used in consequential LCA, where marginal change is considered. For example, one may use marginal data to compare emissions from diesel cars and electric cars.
Average data
Data representing the average behavior of the system. Used in attributional LCA, where the total emissions over time is considered. For example, the average emissions from a power plant over a year.
Attributional LCA
Applicable for understanding the emissions directly associated with the life cycle of a product. Here and now assessment.
Consequential LCA
Applicable for informing on the change in total emissions from e.g. a policy decision. Before and after comparison.
Allocation
Partitioning the input or output flows of a process to the product system under study. Method required when a single process produces two or more products, and the emissions from the process need to be allocated between the outputs. Attributional LCA allocates emissions by economic value, energy content or mass. Consequential LCA avoids allocation by using system expansion.
Inventory analysis
The data collection part of LCA. Consists of detailed tracking of all the flows in and out of the system.
Multi input
Several inputs in a system, with a single output.
Multi output
Several outputs from a system with a single input.
Weighting
Capture values held by humans concerning different environmental problems
and from them create yardsticks to measure the relative severity of different environmental problems.
Hazard
The inherent capacity of a chemical or mixture to cause adverse effects in humans or the environment under the conditions of exposure.
(ERA)
Risk
The probability of an adverse effect on humans or the environment occurring as a result of a given exposure to a chemical or mixture.
(ERA)
Risk assessment
A process which entails some or all of the following elements: hazard identification, effects assessment, exposure assessment and risk characterization.
(ERA)
Safety
The strong probability that adverse effects will not result from the use of a substance under specific conditions, depending on quantity and manner of use.
(ERA)
Hazard identification
Identification of the adverse effects which a substance has an inherent capacity to cause, or in certain cases, the assessment of a particular effect.
(ERA)
Effects assessment
The estimation of the relationship between dose or level of exposure to a substance, and the incidence and severity of an effect.
(ERA)
Exposure assessment
Determination of the emissions, pathways and rates of movement of a substance and its transformation or degradation in order to estimate the concentrations/doses to which human populations or environmental compartments are or may be exposed.
(ERA)
Risk characterization
An estimate of the incidence and severity of the adverse effects likely to occur in a human population or environmental compartment due to actual or predicted exposure to a substance and may include risk estimation.
(ERA)
Risk management
A decision-making process that entails weighing political, social, economic and engineering information against risk-related information to develop, analyze and compare regulatory options and select the appropriate regulatory response to a potential health or environmental hazard.
(ERA)
Risk reduction
Taking measure to protect humans and the environment from the risks identified.
(ERA)
NOEL
No effect level
ERA
NOEC
No effect concentration
ERA
PNEC
Predicted no effect concentration, lowest found NOEC
ERA
PEC
Predicted environmental concentration
ERA
Assessment factors
Numbers reflecting the degree of uncertainty when experimental data from model systems are extrapolated to humans or ecosystems.
(ERA)
Risk quotients (factor)
If RQ is higher than 1, the risk is not controlled.
RF=PEC/PNEC, RF=PDI/ADI
(ERA)
Point source
A single source of emissions, e.g. a pipe
ERA
Diffuse source
Emissions occur over a wide area and are not easily attributed to a
single source.
(ERA)
Continuous emissions
Emissions are constant over time
ERA
Block emissions
Emissions occur in blocks, such as emissions from cars during rush
hours.
(ERA)
Peak emissions
Emissions from a specific event, e.g. an oil accident.
ERA
Threshold
The point at where the level of exposure causes effects.
ERA
