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(34-06) Spatial multimedia chemical fate and exposure modelling for use in life cycle assessment and chemical risk assessment: the Europe scenario . Bachmann, Till*,1, Pennington, David2, Ammann, Christoph2, Pelichet, Thierry2, Margni, Manuele2, Bey, Isabelle2, Carlos, Regiz2, Jolliet, Olivier2, Friedrich, Rainer1, 1 Institute of Energy Economics and the Rational Use of Energy, Stuttgart, Germany2 Laboratory of Ecosystem Management, Lausanne, Switzerland ABSTRACT- This presentation provides an overview of the spatial multimedia fate and exposure model for use in the calculation of human intake fractions in life cycle assessment (LCA) and chemical risk assessment. The model provides a solution to take spatial resolution, as well as intermedia transport, into account. The model consists of modules for each environmental medium (air, water, soil, ...) and for human exposure. The modules are coupled using a discrete matrix solution, which provides dynamic, steady-state and time-integrated estimates of intake fractions. An intake fraction is the fraction of chemical released into the environment that results in human exposure. Each medium-specific fate module takes spatial variation, advective transport, intermedia exchange and degradation processes into account. Fate processes are considered for hydrologically-defined surface water areas (watersheds), coastal waters, sediments, air zones, urban areas, soils and vegetation. The human exposure module includes consideration of the spatial variation of population density, the population supported by different water sources, and the distribution of food production. Intake fractions are calculated for two exposure scenarios: Subsistence-based (consumption of locally grown food and water supplies alone, as in most chemical risk screening models) and Population-based (accounting for the fraction of contaminant that passes into the human food web). Both location-dependent and generic intake fractions are developed. The generic fractions are accompanied by an estimate of the uncertainty associated with the lack of release location information, a common situation in LCA and chemical screening. Key words: Fate, Exposure, Modelling, LCIA |
