Abstract
Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a method of quantifying the environmental impacts associated with a given product. In LCA, researchers create an inventory of resources used and pollutants generated in product production and use. From this an impact assessment estimates the product's ultimate effects on human health, ecosystem function, and natural resource depletion. Standardization of LCA methods has sought to maintain flexibility while ensuring consistency and clarity in reporting. LCA has been applied to various biofuels, including corn ethanol, to estimate the net effects of a biofuel on petroleum use, climate change, air and water quality, and other impact categories.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of Biodiversity |
| Subtitle of host publication | Second Edition |
| Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
| Pages | 627-630 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780123847195 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780123847201 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2013 |
Keywords
- Biofuel
- Carbon footprint
- Ethanol
- Fossil fuel
- Functional unit
- Greenhouse gas
- Human health
- Impact assessment
- Inventory
- Land use
- Market-mediated effect
- Petroleum
- Pollutant
- Supply chain
- System boundary
