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6A - LCIA - Toxicity/RA (WEP/225) OMNIITOX Concept Model Supports Characterisation Modelling for Life Cycle Impact Assessment. Erixon, Maria1, Carlson, Raul 1, Tivander, Johan1, 1 Industrial Environmental Informatics, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden ABSTRACT- This paper describes how the OMNIITOX concept model supports characterisation modelling for life cycle impact assessment, by structuring the information used by the model and in the modelling. The OMNIITOX concept model is developed through a concept analysis in the EU project OMNIITOX, involving toxicology experts from academia and industry as well as life cycle and risk assessment practitioners. The analysis and the synthesis of the result was performed by the information system developers in the OMNIITOX-project, and the resulting concept model has been presented, understood and accepted in iterative consensus processes among all OMNIITOX participants. The toxicity impact assessment framework as described by SETAC working group on impact assessment has been an important input in this work, since it has provided understanding of the state of the art in toxicity impact assessment modelling. In the OMNIITOX project the concept model has been applied as a data format for modelling the characterisation factors of toxic substances. The current experiences from applying the concept model in this way shows that the model substantially increases the structuring of all information needed to describe characterisation models transparently. Thus, the OMNIITOX concept model provides a common format for documenting, storing, reporting and exchanging characterisation models, and that the model also enables a systematic procedure for documentation of characterisation models for life cycle assessment. In addition, the model is compatible with the toxicity impact assessment framework developed in SETAC working group on impact assessment, and even provides a practical structure for transparent modelling of characterisation models of various complexities. Key words: concept model, OMNIITOX, characterisation modelling, life cycle impact assessment |
