ABSTRACT
Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Risk Assessment (RA) are two widely used tools in the environmental management field. Historically, each has been used in isolation of one another, driven principally by user preference, understanding, and perceived benefits and drawback of the tools. Whereas LCA can be seen as a more broadly-scoped, holistic environmental management tool, RA can be viewed as a site-specific, regulatory compliance tool. In the context of emerging technologies, this chapter explores the potential use of both tools to guide development and ensure safety of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) and nanotechnology. Here, we present a strategic guidance diagram (SDG) that maps out when, where and how the individual, combined uses and integrated uses of LCA and RA are warranted for ENM. Additionally, we expand on the topic of integration, to clarify how this can be done at the methodological level.
