Search

The increasing market share of light emitting diode (LED) lamps shows that there will be a surplus of LED lamp waste in the future. LED lamps contain base, critical, and precious metals, and these metals are associated with resource depletion and toxicity impacts. To develop effective recycling and disposal programs, updated metal concentration data are crucial. Evaluating the toxic impacts of metals on LED lamp waste is essential for informed decision-making in metal selection and substitution in future LED lamp design. This study aims to evaluate the metal substances in LED lamp models consumed in Thailand, representing the ASEAN region, using standardized leaching tests. It compares the obtained metal concentration data with existing literature and threshold total metal concentration (TTLC) standards to determine the potential hazard status of LED lamp models. Additionally, the study applies the USEtox life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) model to develop a comprehensive toxicological impact data set based on metal concentrations in different LED lamp types. The results showed that copper, aluminum, and iron were the most abundant metals in LED lamps. The average mass concentrations of copper, nickel, silver, lead, and zinc were found to have exceeded the TTLC limits, classifying the waste LED lamps as hazardous. Of the metals found in LED lamp waste, nickel and lead carried the highest cancer risk, zinc and lead the highest noncancer toxicity, and aluminum and iron the highest ecotoxicity. These results indicate that stronger enforcement is needed to reduce toxic impacts. The findings lead to the development of a new data set for recycling/recovery and provide recommendations for making eco-friendly designs in the manufacture of LED lamps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overuse of chemicals has been causing serious global pollution. Toxicity assessment and screening of chemicals effectively contribute to individualised management and control of toxic and harmful chemicals that are released into the environment. Moreover, they can protect the ecological environment and human health from the effect of these substances. This study is researching for A Textile Company in Suzhou, China, and uses the USEtox consensus model to calculate the toxic effects of pollution emissions on the ecological environment. In addition, the pollutants that should be controlled first are screened and identified through comprehensive analysis of accounting results. Results show that heavy metals are a major source of potential ecotoxicity and pollutants to be prioritised. Considering the total ecotoxicity ranking, category ranking and rankings within categories of pollutants discharged by A company, copper, nickel and manganese in heavy metals; tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol in chlorinated chemicals; and nonylphenol/branched-4-nonylphenol and 4-octylphenol in alkylphenols should be primarily controlled. From the perspective of terminal control, the study puts forward that the objects of corporate environmental management should be transformed from 'medium management (wastewater, waste gas and waste residue)' to 'substance management (chemical)' and provides empirical evidence for the management and control of toxic and hazardous substances from 'comprehensive pollutant management' to 'single pollutant management'. The research results can provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for scientific decision-making in order to achieve priority management and control of pollutants and reduce the ecotoxic effects of chemical pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the life cycle assessment framework, the comparison and assessment of chemical footprint (ChF) can be performed to identify the chemical categories with large toxic effect, including the initial inputs of chemical raw materials and the final emissions of chemical pollutants. In this study, the ChF methodology of textile and apparel products was demonstrated using the USEtox model with jeans production as a case study. Several chemical pollutants with large contribution to human and ecological toxicities were identified during the life cycle of the wet treatment process. The logarithmic plot and the cluster analysis indicate that dimethyl siloxane, reaction product with silica and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one in the warp dyeing phase are two major contributors to human and ecological toxicities respectively. In the weft bleaching phase, magnesium chloride has high toxicity to humans, and sulfuric acid and nonylphenol ethoxylate have high toxicity to ecological environment. Therefore, these pollutants must be given much attention. The ChF results of chemical materials show that antifoaming agent in the warp dyeing phase has high toxicity to humans. In the weft bleaching phase, peroxide stabilizer has high toxicity to humans, and wetting/penetrating and sequestering agents have high toxicity to ecological environment. These findings can provide a practical guidance for the effective reduction in the toxic impact of textile industrial chemicals on humans and ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We need models to make decisions regarding minimization of chemical impacts on the environment. These models must allow us to make estimations with a minimum amount of data. The USEtox is an example of such a model. However, the Russian Federation (as its districts and some regions) is large in area and contains a wide variety of topography and climatic features. As a result, estimations at the country, district, or region scales, on whole, might lead to incorrect administrative measures. Each administrative unit requires specific assessment and management decisions owing to the peculiarities of the state structure that take into account the above-mentioned features. In addition, there are many point sources causing significant chemical pollution (for example, chemical plants) in territories under consideration. These sources are often located a considerable distance from other sources. Considering all of the above, we developed an algorithm to calculate the coefficients of chemicals transported between the compartments of the environment on a geospatial grid. The algorithm is based on the UNEP-SETAC scientific consensus USEtox model and a geographic information system (GIS) that provides data of water flows and airflows. We describe the application of the algorithm to the study of Hg 2+ transport between Federal Districts of the Russian Federation on a low-resolution grid and to the study of Al 3+ transport in the Leningrad Region on a high-resolution 0.5° x 0.5° geospatial grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are widely used in food production, yet the potential harm associated with their emission into the environment is rarely considered in the context of sustainable diets. In this study, a life cycle assessment was used to quantify the freshwater ecotoxicity, human toxicity carcinogenic effects, and human toxicity noncarcinogenic effects associated with pesticide use in relation to 9341 individual Australian adult daily diets. The three environmental indicators were also combined into a pesticide toxicity footprint, and a diet quality score was applied to each diet. Energy-dense and nutrient-poor discretionary foods, fruits, and protein-rich foods were the sources of most of the dietary pesticide impacts. Problematically, a dietary shift toward recommended diets was found to increase the pesticide toxicity footprint compared to the current average diet. Using a quadrant analysis, a recommended diet was identified with a 38% lower pesticide toxicity footprint. This was achieved mainly through a reduction in the discretionary food intake and by limiting the choice of fresh fruits. As the latter contradicts dietary recommendations to eat a variety of fruits of different types and colors, we concluded that dietary change may not be the best approach to lowering the environmental impacts of pesticides in the food system. Instead, targeted action in the horticultural industry may be more effective. Consumers might encourage this transition by supporting growers that reduce pesticide use and apply less environmentally harmful active ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]