ABSTRACT
The high uncertainty present in the implementation of life-cycle and environmental risk assessment studies introduces a crucial limitation when interpreting the environmental impact and damage estimations provided by these methodologies. Within this particular context this chapter presents a strategic procedure to better deal with an uncertainty assessment based on the stochastic model of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. Initially, we will present an overview about the importance of implementing uncertainty assessments in studies of life-cycle assessment (LCA) and impact pathway analysis (IPA). Then, the basic statistical concepts related to MC simulation are introduced. This section also compares some of the best known commercial software packages that apply MC simulation to uncertainty evaluation. The third section describes the core of the uncertainty assessment strategic procedures. Finally, in the last section, we will use the municipal solid waste incineration process (MSWI) in Tarragona, Spain, as the practical case study of risk assessment for explaining the procedure better.
