ABSTRACT
Nanotechnologies: A Parallel? .....................................................222 11.2.3 Review of LCA Applied to Nanomaterials and
Nanotechnologies ..........................................................................225 11.2.4 Limitations in Application of LCA in Studies ........................... 231
11.2.4.1 Goal and Scope of Studies ............................................. 231 11.2.4.2 Inventory of Emissions ...................................................235 11.2.4.3 Impact Assessment .........................................................235 11.2.4.4 Interpretation ................................................................... 237
11.2.5 Gaps and Further Needs ............................................................... 237 11.3 Recommendations and Strategies for Improving Nano-Specic
LCAs ............................................................................................................ 237 11.3.1 Nano-Specicities for Scope and Goal Denition .................... 237
11.3.1.1 Identication of LCA Scope and of Main Risk of Nanomaterials ................................................................. 237
11.3.1.2 Nano-Specicities of LCA Goal Denition ................. 241 11.3.2 Nano-Specicities for Life Cycle Inventory ............................... 241
11.3.2.1 Quantication of LC emissions of Nanoparticles: A Status............................................................................. 242
11.3.2.2 Inventory for Nanoproduct-Specic Processes and Potential Releases ............................................................ 245
On the basis of a life cycle perspective, we analyze how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been addressing the trade-offs between the risks and benets of nanotechnologies, as a replacement for conventional technologies. This chapter starts by shortly describing the LCA approach and its use to compare the impacts of products for readers that are not familiar with LCA. It then discusses how the LCA approach applies to nano-based products. It comprehensively reviews the existing LCA literature of case studies applied to nano-based products. Finally, it identies the main questions that need to be addressed.
