El objetivo principal de esta tesis doctoral es el de contribuir al desarollo y evaluación en la aplicación y exposición de pesticidas en plantas y su impacto sobre la salud humana y los ecosistemas. Los modelos ambientales usados para la evaluación de impacto en el análisis de ciclo de vida y en analisis de riesgo ambiental relacionan las emisiones con su impacto, combinando el destino y la exposición estimada y relacionandolo con información toxicológica. Los pesticidas liberados en aire, agua y suelos llegan al cuerpo humano a través de los alimentos, principalmente por la ingestión de las partes comestibles de los vegetales. Por dicha razón, es de gran importacia el desarollo de métodos para el análisis de residuos tóxicos en productos agrícolas. De aquí emergen las siguientes preguntas:1. ¿Como puede ser modelada la cantidad residual y el lugar de destino de los pesticidas aplicados por aire en los invernaderos? ¿Cual es su compotamiento dinámico y como afecta la concentración residual en las partes comestibles de los vegetales?2. ¿Como puede medirse y modelarse la degradación de los pesticidas tanto en superficie como en el interior de vegetación?3. ¿Como puede hacerse una estimación de la vida media específica tanto en superficie como en el interior de vegetales partiendo de la información de degradación en el suelo?4. ¿Como puede desarollarse un indicador de riesgo con el cual se puedan analizar comparativamente pesticidas basado en el lugar de aplicación, tiempo de exposición y características toxicológicas?Después de una breve introdución al análisis medioambiental y los problemas específicamente relacionados con la aplicación de pesticidas y sus características en el capítulo uno, en el capítulo dos se propone un acercamiento a través del modelado de residuos de pesticidas en tomates cultivados en invernadero. Este modelo de destino y exposición tiene en consideración el tiempo transcurrido entre la aplicación, la cosecha y el consumo, la absorción del spray depositado en la superficie de las plantas, las propiedades de transporte a través de la cutícula, la degradación en el interior de la misma planta y perdidas debido al procesado del alimento. El modelo fue validado usando datos experimentales obtenidos a partir de ensayos de campo. También se presenta la fracción de pesticida ingerido por humanos debido al consumo de tomate mostrando un escenario realista de la exposición humana a estos productos.En el capítulo tercero se presentan dos algoritmos genéricos para la estimación de (i) la vida media específica de pesticidas en superficie y (ii) en el interior de las plantas, usados en el modelo de destino y exposición. También se propone una rutina de extrapolación para estimar la vida media de plaguicidas en superficie, basándose en un factor de conversión cuya base de cálculo parte de la vida media de estos en suelos. Más adelante se presenta un método de estimación tentativa para el cálculo de la vida media de pesticidas en el interior de las plantas, básandose en datos experimentales.El capítulo cuatro es una prolongación de los capítulos dos y tres. Los resultados antes obtenidos, se combinan aquí con un nuevo método de análisis experimental para medir absorción, transporte y persistencia de pesticidas en tomates tratados por (i) spray foliar estándar y (ii) aplicación en raíces por riego por goteo. Un modelo dinámico de absorción de pesticidas por raíz trata de estimar la dependencia temporal de la concentración del contaminante en los frutos. Finalmente, los resultados experimentales son comparados con el modelo en terminos de ingestión de fracción de pesticida por parte de la población humana. En esta investigación se intenta evaluar el comportamiento medioambiental de los pesticidas comparando los diferentes métodos de aplicación de un mismo ingrediente activo.El capítulo cinco ilustra el desarollo de un nuevo método llamado PestScreen, el cual calcula el nivel relativo de riesgo de pesticidas con el fin de clasificarlos ascendentemente dependiendo de su impacto. Esta aproximación es un método de estimación del nivel relativo de riesgo y permite comparar la peligrosidad tanto a nivel de salud humana como de impacto medioambiental, de diferentes tipos de pesticidas, a través de una categorización. Este método se desarolla como una herramienta para la evaluación e identificación de pesticidas con peligrosidad medioambiental usados en la agricultura. PestScreen incorpora tanto su efecto tóxico como su destino y exposición en varios compartimentos medioambientales. Esto se realiza combinando medidas de toxicidad química con la cantidad liberada, la persistencia medioambiental, el potencial de transporte en un radio amplio y la fracción ingerida por la población humana. En el capítulo seis los principales resultados son presentados y resumidos, finalmente se sugieren recomendaciones para investigaciones futuras. / The overall goal of this dissertation is to contribute to the development of best available practice in fate and the exposure assessment of pesticides for evaluating their impacts on human health and ecosystems. Environmental models used in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) and Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) relate emissions to impacts by combining fate and exposure estimates with toxicological assessment data. Pesticides released to air, water, soil and plants enter the human body through food commodities, particularly through the ingestion of arable parts of plants. Therefore, specific methods to assess the presence of residues in agricultural products are of importance for human exposure assessment. This raises the following questions:1. How can the fate (from air and soil) of pesticides in/on plants cultivated in greenhouses be measured and modelled? How does dynamic behaviour affect the final residues in arable parts of plants?2. How can the degradation of pesticides on plant surfaces and within plants be measured and modelled? 3. How can a substance specific half-life in/on plants be estimated from soil degradation data using extrapolation routines?4. How can a risk indicator for comparative assessment of pesticides be developed using fate, exposure, and toxicity characteristics?After a short introduction to environmental assessment approaches and the specific problems related to the application of pesticides and their characteristics in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 proposes an approach for modelling pesticide residues in greenhouse tomato plants. This fate and exposure model considers the time between pesticide application and harvest, the time between harvest and consumption, the absorption of spray deposit on plant surfaces, transfer properties through the cuticle, degradation inside the plant and loss due to food processing. The model is validated with experimental data which was obtained from field trials conducted in the Catalan Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries; IRTA) in Cabrils (Barcelona). Human intake fractions of pesticides due to ingestion of tomatoes representing a realistic scenario of human exposure to pesticide residues in foods are presented.In Chapter 3, two generic estimation routines for substance specific half-lives of pesticides (i) on plant surfaces and (ii) within plants to be used in fate and exposure models are presented. First, an extrapolation routine for the estimation of pesticide half-lives on plant surfaces based on a conversion factor from half-lives of pesticides in soil is proposed. Furthermore, a tentative estimation method for the calculation of metabolism half-lives of pesticides in inner parts of plants based on experimental data is presented.Chapter 4 presents a follow-up of Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. Previous results are combined with new experimental assessment to measure the uptake, translocation and persistence behaviour of pesticides in tomato fruits treated by (i) standard foliar spray application and (ii) soil application using direct localised drip irrigation into root zone. A dynamic root uptake model for pesticides aiming at the estimation of time dependent contaminant concentrations in fruits is proposed. Finally, experimental results are compared with model estimates in terms of human population intake fractions of pesticides. These investigations aim to evaluate the environmental performance of pesticides when the same active ingredient is applied to crops by different application techniques. Chapter 5 illustrates the development of a new method entitled PestScreen, to calculate the relative risk level of pesticides with the aim of ranking them from lowest to highest degree of concern. The approach is an estimation method of relative risk levels and allows comparing environmental and human health risks of specific pesticide types through their ranking. The method is developed to serve as an analytical tool in screening and identification of pesticides of environmental concern used in agriculture. PestScreen incorporates both the toxic effects of pesticides and their fate and exposure characteristics in different compartments of the environment. This is done by combining measures of chemical toxicity pertaining to both human health and the environment with chemical release amounts and information on overall environmental persistence, long-range transport potential and human population intake fractions. In Chapter 6 the most important results are summarized and recommendations for further research are discussed.

Methods of chemical hazard ranking and toxic impact assessment estimate fate and toxicity assuming the chemical exists in dissolved and particulate phases and, for metals, that all dissolved species are equally bioavailable. This treatment of metals, similar to organic chemicals, introduced a significant error in their estimates of hazard ranking since metal bioavailability and ecotoxicity are related to truly dissolved phase and specifically free metal ion within it. My thesis addressed this concern by developing a new method that introduced Bioavailability Factor (BF) to the calculation of Comparative Toxicity Potentials (CTPs) for hazard ranking of chemicals; also known as Characterization Factors for use in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). First, the metal speciation/complexation was incorporated into fate calculations by loosely coupling commercial geochemical metal speciation model, WHAM, with a multimedia fate model, USEtoxTM, which is originally designed to calculate CTPs for organic chemicals. Second, Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) was used to calculate the bioavailability-corrected adverse toxic effects of metals. This new method was applied to assess the implications of choosing environmental characteristics, notably freshwater chemistry, by calculating BFs and CTPs of several cationic metals (e.g., Cd, Cu, Co, Pb, Ni and Zn) using 12 European, 24 Canadian ecoregions, several distinct freshwater-types selected from large river and lake systems world-wide. The newly estimated metal CTPs (i.e., ecotoxicity potentials) are up to ~1000 times lower than previous values used in LCIA. Notably the model results showed that the absolute values of CTPs, and their relative ranking amongst chemicals, are a product of the characteristics of a receiving environment. Hence it is crucial to select a generic freshwater archetype on which this analysis should be based. Finally, the new model framework was extended to apply within the Unit World Model (UWM) framework to estimate critical loads (CLs) of cationic metals to surface aquatic systems.

Methods of chemical hazard ranking and toxic impact assessment estimate fate and toxicity assuming the chemical exists in dissolved and particulate phases and, for metals, that all dissolved species are equally bioavailable. This treatment of metals, similar to organic chemicals, introduced a significant error in their estimates of hazard ranking since metal bioavailability and ecotoxicity are related to truly dissolved phase and specifically free metal ion within it. My thesis addressed this concern by developing a new method that introduced Bioavailability Factor (BF) to the calculation of Comparative Toxicity Potentials (CTPs) for hazard ranking of chemicals; also known as Characterization Factors for use in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). First, the metal speciation/complexation was incorporated into fate calculations by loosely coupling commercial geochemical metal speciation model, WHAM, with a multimedia fate model, USEtoxTM, which is originally designed to calculate CTPs for organic chemicals. Second, Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) was used to calculate the bioavailability-corrected adverse toxic effects of metals. This new method was applied to assess the implications of choosing environmental characteristics, notably freshwater chemistry, by calculating BFs and CTPs of several cationic metals (e.g., Cd, Cu, Co, Pb, Ni and Zn) using 12 European, 24 Canadian ecoregions, several distinct freshwater-types selected from large river and lake systems world-wide. The newly estimated metal CTPs (i.e., ecotoxicity potentials) are up to ~1000 times lower than previous values used in LCIA. Notably the model results showed that the absolute values of CTPs, and their relative ranking amongst chemicals, are a product of the characteristics of a receiving environment. Hence it is crucial to select a generic freshwater archetype on which this analysis should be based. Finally, the new model framework was extended to apply within the Unit World Model (UWM) framework to estimate critical loads (CLs) of cationic metals to surface aquatic systems.

A Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) apresenta quatro fases em sua estrutura metodológica, que podem ser encontradas em normas como a ISO 14.040 e ISO 14.044. A Avaliação de Impacto do Ciclo de Vida (AICV) é a terceira fase da ACV e utiliza métodos e modelos de caracterização para avaliar a importância de intervenções ambientais contidas no Inventário do Ciclo de Vida (ICV). Os métodos para a AICV mais utilizados são em sua maioria desenvolvidos em países da Europa, embora sejam aplicados em diferentes partes do mundo, incluindo o Brasil. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar as características e a aplicabilidade dos principais métodos de AICV e verificar o escopo dos modelos de caracterização para a categoria de impacto acidificação a fim de fornecer subsídios para aplicação desses métodos e modelos no Brasil. Por meio da revisão bibliográfica as informações referentes a cada método foram classificadas de acordo com as categorias de comparação: categorias de impacto abordadas, nível de avaliação do impacto, abrangência de aplicação e existência ou não de metodologias para normalização e ponderação. Dessa forma a análise realizada identifica que a maioria das categorias de impacto dos métodos CML 2002, EDIP 97, EPS 2000, USEtox e IMPACT World+ apresentam escopo de aplicação classificado como global, sendo recomendados, para estas categorias, para uso no Brasil. Com a finalidade de auxiliar com informações sobre os modelos de caracterização para a categoria de impacto acidificação, por meio da revisão bibliográfica foi possível analisar os procedimentos e parâmetros de cálculos utilizados por cada modelo para esta categoria. A análise comparativa entre os modelos, com base na revisão bibliográfica, foi feita a partir dos seguintes critérios: substâncias abordadas, ano e região de referência dos fatores de caracterização, parâmetros usados nos cálculos, dados necessários, ano e área de coleta dos dados, resolução espacial, relevância ambiental, robustez científica e exatidão, e documentação, transparência e reprodutibilidade. O modelo Accumulated Exceedance apresentou a melhor avaliação frente a esses critérios e, portanto, é recomendado como referência inicial para o desenvolvimento de procedimentos metodológicos que suportem a aplicação desse modelo no Brasil. Para que isso seja possível é necessário que esse modelo de caracterização seja complementado por um modelo de destino atmosférico adequado à realidade brasileira. Isto posto, pretende-se subsidiar, tanto pelo procedimento adotado quanto pelos resultados obtidos, pesquisas direcionadas ao desenvolvimento de modelos de caracterização, para diferentes categorias de impacto, que representem as características específicas regionais do Brasil durante a AICV. / Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has four phases in its methodological framework, which can be found in standards such as ISO 14,040 and ISO 14,044. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is the third phase of LCA and uses characterization models and methods to assess the importance of environmental interventions contained in the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI). The methods most commonly used for LCIA are mostly developed in European countries, although applied in different parts of the world, including Brazil. This research aims to analyze the characteristics and the applicability of the main methods of LCIA and to check the characterization models scope for acidification impact category in order to provide support for application of these methods and models in Brazil. Through the LCIA methods review their information were classified according to the criteria: impact categories addressed, impact assessment level, scope of application and the existence or not of methodologies for normalization and weighting. Thus, the analysis identifies that most impact categories of CML 2002, EDIP 97, EPS 2000, USEtox and IMPACT World+ methods present scope of application classified as global, being recommended for these categories for the use in Brazil. In order to assist with information about the characterization models for acidification impact category through the literature review it was possible to analyze the procedures and the calculation parameters used by each model for this category. The comparative analysis between the models, based on review, was done based on the following criteria: substances addressed, reference year and region of characterization factors, parameters used in the calculations, necessary data, year and area of data collection, spatial resolution, environmental relevance, scientific robustness and accuracy, and documentation, transparency and reproducibility. The Accumulated Exceedance model presented the best assessment against these criteria and is therefore recommended as initial reference for the development of methodological procedures that support the application of this model in Brazil. To make this possible it is necessary that this characterization model is complemented by an atmospheric fate model appropriate to the Brazilian reality. That said, it is intended to subsidize, through the procedures adopted and the results obtained, research directed to the development of characterization models, for different impact categories, which represent the specific regional characteristics of Brazil during the LCIA.

A Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) apresenta quatro fases em sua estrutura metodológica, que podem ser encontradas em normas como a ISO 14.040 e ISO 14.044. A Avaliação de Impacto do Ciclo de Vida (AICV) é a terceira fase da ACV e utiliza métodos e modelos de caracterização para avaliar a importância de intervenções ambientais contidas no Inventário do Ciclo de Vida (ICV). Os métodos para a AICV mais utilizados são em sua maioria desenvolvidos em países da Europa, embora sejam aplicados em diferentes partes do mundo, incluindo o Brasil. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar as características e a aplicabilidade dos principais métodos de AICV e verificar o escopo dos modelos de caracterização para a categoria de impacto acidificação a fim de fornecer subsídios para aplicação desses métodos e modelos no Brasil. Por meio da revisão bibliográfica as informações referentes a cada método foram classificadas de acordo com as categorias de comparação: categorias de impacto abordadas, nível de avaliação do impacto, abrangência de aplicação e existência ou não de metodologias para normalização e ponderação. Dessa forma a análise realizada identifica que a maioria das categorias de impacto dos métodos CML 2002, EDIP 97, EPS 2000, USEtox e IMPACT World+ apresentam escopo de aplicação classificado como global, sendo recomendados, para estas categorias, para uso no Brasil. Com a finalidade de auxiliar com informações sobre os modelos de caracterização para a categoria de impacto acidificação, por meio da revisão bibliográfica foi possível analisar os procedimentos e parâmetros de cálculos utilizados por cada modelo para esta categoria. A análise comparativa entre os modelos, com base na revisão bibliográfica, foi feita a partir dos seguintes critérios: substâncias abordadas, ano e região de referência dos fatores de caracterização, parâmetros usados nos cálculos, dados necessários, ano e área de coleta dos dados, resolução espacial, relevância ambiental, robustez científica e exatidão, e documentação, transparência e reprodutibilidade. O modelo Accumulated Exceedance apresentou a melhor avaliação frente a esses critérios e, portanto, é recomendado como referência inicial para o desenvolvimento de procedimentos metodológicos que suportem a aplicação desse modelo no Brasil. Para que isso seja possível é necessário que esse modelo de caracterização seja complementado por um modelo de destino atmosférico adequado à realidade brasileira. Isto posto, pretende-se subsidiar, tanto pelo procedimento adotado quanto pelos resultados obtidos, pesquisas direcionadas ao desenvolvimento de modelos de caracterização, para diferentes categorias de impacto, que representem as características específicas regionais do Brasil durante a AICV. / Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has four phases in its methodological framework, which can be found in standards such as ISO 14,040 and ISO 14,044. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is the third phase of LCA and uses characterization models and methods to assess the importance of environmental interventions contained in the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI). The methods most commonly used for LCIA are mostly developed in European countries, although applied in different parts of the world, including Brazil. This research aims to analyze the characteristics and the applicability of the main methods of LCIA and to check the characterization models scope for acidification impact category in order to provide support for application of these methods and models in Brazil. Through the LCIA methods review their information were classified according to the criteria: impact categories addressed, impact assessment level, scope of application and the existence or not of methodologies for normalization and weighting. Thus, the analysis identifies that most impact categories of CML 2002, EDIP 97, EPS 2000, USEtox and IMPACT World+ methods present scope of application classified as global, being recommended for these categories for the use in Brazil. In order to assist with information about the characterization models for acidification impact category through the literature review it was possible to analyze the procedures and the calculation parameters used by each model for this category. The comparative analysis between the models, based on review, was done based on the following criteria: substances addressed, reference year and region of characterization factors, parameters used in the calculations, necessary data, year and area of data collection, spatial resolution, environmental relevance, scientific robustness and accuracy, and documentation, transparency and reproducibility. The Accumulated Exceedance model presented the best assessment against these criteria and is therefore recommended as initial reference for the development of methodological procedures that support the application of this model in Brazil. To make this possible it is necessary that this characterization model is complemented by an atmospheric fate model appropriate to the Brazilian reality. That said, it is intended to subsidize, through the procedures adopted and the results obtained, research directed to the development of characterization models, for different impact categories, which represent the specific regional characteristics of Brazil during the LCIA.

This master thesis represents a life cycle impact assessment of a state of the art electrically driven power train. It is expected to be installed in a diesel engine passenger ferry boat, currently transporting passengers in downtown Stockholm archipelago. The assessment has a comparative character in between the currently operating and the new power train in order to differentiate and recognize which of the two propulsion options is the environmentally preferable choice. The scope of the study is directed towards the thorough examination of both power trains so that it can represent most closely the two specific technological cases. Studied and assessed were the three main life cycle phases of each power train – raw materials acquisition and manufacturing, use phase and end of life phase. The fundament of the study involved creating environmental models for each and every component of the drive trains, the propulsion fuel and energy used, and the services related to waste treatment in the last phase of their functional life. The environmental models were later used to build live cycle inventories that served to derive the respectful impact from the item analyzed. The data used to model the battery electric power train was provided directly from the manufacturer, where the end of life procedures carried out were assumed where possible. The main battery pack for the electric power train was not modeled in terms of  end of life procedures due to insufficiency of information. Almost no generic information was available to model the diesel engine and it was calculated by creating auxiliary simplified cad models. The rest of the data required to achieve an environmental inventory regarding the power train was available from a subcontractor. Both studied options were modeled with allocation approach that includes the avoided production of materials at the waste treatment stage where there was sufficient information to do that. There was none to model the main battery packs avoided production which is a major component of the battery electric system. To model the use phase of the diesel engine power train, research data regarding combustion emissions and waterborne emissions was utilized. A number of electricity mix models were applied to create a sensitivity analysis of the operation phase of the battery electric power train. Chosen for baseline scenarios simulating the use phases of both power trains are use of Nordel market electricity mix and the combustion of low sulfur diesel with five volumetric percent rape methyl ester additive. For the purposes of the assessment eighteen midpoint impact indicators were used to cover the areas of global warming potential, human health and quality of eco systems. The results from the study show that the estimated impact from both power trains is small enough to have almost no influence on the results from the two baseline scenarios. Based on this it was concluded that for future research of similar cases either generic information can be used or a cut-off can be applied. After the assessment, more environmentally favorable was estimated the diesel engine power train because of the large burdens from the battery manufacturing in the battery electric option. Further assessment determined that the diesel engine power train again is less environmentally intensive than the battery electric with the main battery burdens excluded. In the overall life cycle impact assessment both power train showed different results in the different impact categories, which could not place a definitive propulsion option of choice. The conclusions from the analysis are that the diesel engine power train causes higher impact in the categories related to global warming, fossil depletion and in most ecosystems quality indicators. The battery electric version in its base line scenario, on the other hand, expresses higher impact in categories related to human health and in the remaining eco system quality midpoint-scores.

Innovation is essential to promote human progress and to improve the humans' quality of life, but it should be done in a social and environmental context and in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. To achieve this challenge the environmental innovation guidelines should be taken into account. In this line, it is necessary to analyze the life cycle assessment (LCA) of any product, process or service and compute its environmental impacts. Despite the rapid evolution of environmental methods and tools and the increase of sustainability studies in recent years, LCA remains an area that still has to face major development challenges. This thesis provides an analysis from a new perspective with the intention to serve as a support in the conceptual and empirical application of the LCA in the Agri-food sector. It consists of a qualitative analysis designed to know the type of relationship between the different actors involved and their information exchange needs. The case study made it possible to compare the differences between the academic and the industrial fields, as well as the differences between Spanish and Brazilian LCA experts. Through expert panels, 40 specialists were interviewed and were asked to made a survey to evaluate experts' relationships using the Social Network Analysis method (SNA). Moreover, the network flow of environmental information in Brazil and Spain was mapped. A second quantitative study was carried out reviewing 70 scientific publications of LCA in the Agri-food sector according to a checklist based on the definition of 20 control variables. The objective was to evaluate the quantity and quality of the information enclosed in the different works. To do this, the entropy and diversity of information were calculated using the Shannon and the equitability indexes, using the number of inputs considered in each impact category. A threshold of minimum information is proposed, using percentiles 25 and 75 (Tukey values) of the calculated Shannon indexes from the papers sample. Moreover, a cluster analysis was done using 10 out the 20 control variable to classify LCAs into clusters with similar levels of performance for the LCAs of the same group and different from the LCA belonging to the other groups. Based on the analysis of the centers of resulting group, the strengths and weaknesses of each group were identified. Then, a roadmap or improvement plan was succinctly defined, pointing out the actions to be taken to improve the performance levels in each group in the short, medium and long term. Finally, a set of actions to improve and facilitate the implementation of LCA in the Agri-food sector was defined as a kind of good practice manual. In sum, it could be concluded that this present thesis could serve to improve the LCA studies performance levels for industry, and, at the same time, it could serve as a baseline with which to compare academic standards of a more academic works. / La innovación es esencial para promover el progreso de la humanidad y la mejora de la calidad de vida, pero debe realizarse respetando un suelo social y un techo ambiental de acuerdo con los principios del desarrollo sostenible. Para intentar conseguirlo surge la innovación ambiental. En esa línea, resulta necesario analizar el ciclo de vida (ACV) de cualquier producto, proceso o servicio y computar sus impactos ambientales. A pesar de la rápida evolución de los métodos y herramientas y del incremento de estudios en los últimos años, el ACV sigue siendo un área que se enfrenta a retos de desarrollo importantes. Esta tesis proporciona un análisis desde una perspectiva nueva con la intención de servir de apoyo en la aplicación conceptual y empírica del ACV en el sector agroalimentario. Consta de un análisis cualitativo destinado a conocer el tipo de relación entre los distintos actores involucrados y sus necesidades de intercambio de información. El caso de aplicación permite comparar las diferencias entre el mundo académico y el industrial, así como las diferencias entre expertos en ACV de España y Brasil. A través de paneles de expertos se entrevistó a 40 especialistas y con un cuestionario se evaluó la red de contactos usando el método de Análisis de Redes Sociales (SNA). Con todo se mapeó el flujo de información ambiental en Brasil y España. En un segundo estudio cuantitativo se realizó una revisión crítica de 70 publicaciones científicas de ACV pertenecientes al sector agroalimentario, evaluando las mejores revistas y congresos de todo el mundo entre 2010 y 2016 a partir de la definición de 20 variables de control. El objetivo era evaluar la cantidad y calidad de la información contenida en los distintos trabajos. Para ello se calculó la entropía y diversidad de la información a través del Índice de Shannon y del cálculo de la heterogeneidad en lo refiere al número de inputs considerados en cada categoría de impacto. Tras los valores obtenidos se proponen unos umbrales de información mínima aconsejable usando como límites el valor de las bisagras de Tukey de la distribución de los 70 índices de Shannon calculados. Por otra parte, a partir de 10 de las 20 variables de control se agruparon los distintos ACV analizados con objeto de clasificarlos en grupos con parecido nivel de desempeño para los ACV de un mismo grupo y distinto al de los ACV pertenecientes al resto de grupos. A partir del análisis del análisis de los centros de cada grupo, se identificó las fortalezas y debilidades de cada grupo, para más tarde definir de forma sucinta un mapa de ruta o plan de mejora apuntando las acciones a realizar para mejorar los niveles de desempeño en el corto, medio y largo plazo de cada grupo. Finalmente, se definió a modo de un manual de buenas prácticas un conjunto de acciones a realizar para mejorar y facilitar la realización de ACV en el sector agroalimentario. Con todo. Se podría concluir que la tesis puede servir para mejorar los niveles de desempeño de la realización futura de estudios de ACV en el sector industrial, al tiempo que podría servir como línea de base con la que comparar los estándares de estudios de carácter más académico. / La innovació és essencial per a promoure el progrés de la humanitat i la millora de la qualitat de vida, però ha de realitzar-se respectant un sòl social i un sostre ambiental d'acord amb els principis del desenrotllament sostenible. Per a intentar aconseguir-ho sorgix la innovació ambiental. En eixa línia, resulta necessari analitzar el cicle de vida (ACV) de qualsevol producte, procés o servici i computar els seus impactes ambientals. A pesar de la ràpida evolució dels mètodes i ferramentes i de l'increment d'estudis en els últims anys, l'ACV continua sent una àrea que s'enfronta a reptes de desenrotllament importants. Esta tesi proporciona una anàlisi des d'una perspectiva nova amb la intenció de servir de suport en l'aplicació conceptual i empírica de l'ACV en el sector agroalimentari. Consta d'una anàlisi qualitativa destinada a conèixer el tipus de relació entre els distints actors involucrats i les seues necessitats d'intercanvi d'informació. El cas d'aplicació permet comparar les diferències entre el món acadèmic i l'industrial, així com les diferències entre experts en ACV d'Espanya i Brasil. A través de panells d'experts es va entrevistar a 40 especialistes i amb un qüestionari es va avaluar la xarxa de contactes usant el mètode d'Anàlisi de Xarxes Socials (SNA). Amb tot es dissenyà el flux d'informació ambiental a Brasil i Espanya. En un segon estudi quantitatiu es va realitzar una revisió crítica de 70 publicacions científiques d'ACV pertanyents al sector agroalimentari, avaluant les millors revistes i congressos de tot el món entre 2010 i 2016 a partir de la definició de 20 variables de control. L'objectiu era avaluar la quantitat i qualitat de la informació continguda en els distints treballs. Per a això es va calcular l'entropia i diversitat de la informació a través de l'Índex de Shannon i del càlcul de l'heterogeneïtat en el que es refereix al nombre d'inputs considerats en cada categoria d'impacte. Després dels valors obtinguts es proposen uns llindars d'informació mínima aconsellable usant com a límits el valor de les frontisses de Tukey de la distribució dels 70 índexs de Shannon calculats. D'altra banda, a partir de 10 de les 20 variables de control es van agrupar els distints ACV analitzats a fi de classificar-los en grups amb paregut nivell d'excel·lència per als ACV d'un mateix grup i diferent del dels ACV pertanyents a la resta de grups. A partir de l'anàlisi de l'anàlisi dels centres de cada grup, es va identificar les fortaleses i debilitats de cada grup, per a més tard definir de forma succinta un mapa de ruta o pla de millora apuntant les accions a realitzar per a millorar els nivells d'exercici en el curt, mitjà i llarg termini de cada grup. Finalment, es va definir a manera d'un manual de bones pràctiques un conjunt d'accions a realitzar per a millorar i facilitar la realització d'ACV en el sector agroalimentari. Amb tot, es podria concloure que la tesi pot servir per a millorar els nivells d'exercici de la realització futura d'estudis d'ACV en el sector industrial, alhora que podria servir com a línia de base amb què comparar els estàndards d'estudis de caràcter més acadèmic. / Oliveira Barros, FM. (2017). Proposal for a LCA improvement roadmap in the Agri-food sector based on information exchange requirements and the enclosed data in recent LCAs works [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/89082 / TESIS

O principal instrumento de avaliação dos impactos ambientais do ciclo de vida de produtos é a Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV). Uma de suas fases, a Avaliação de Impacto do Ciclo de Vida (AICV) refere-se ao processo quantitativo e/ou qualitativo aplicado na caracterização e avaliação dos impactos associados ao inventário do ciclo de vida. Dentre os impactos ambientais avaliados, estão aqueles relacionados ao uso da terra. Um dos grandes desafios no campo da ACV refere-se diferenciação espacial e temporal nos métodos de AICV, sobretudo para impactos devido à transformação e ocupação da terra. Torna-se necessário o desenvolvimento de modelos de caracterização e/ou adaptação daqueles já existentes de maneira que possam considerar as características ambientais regionais de cada país, visando à obtenção de resultados mais consistentes e precisos. Assim, este trabalho tem o objetivo de analisar a aplicabilidade e a regionalização dos principais modelos de caracterização de impactos do uso da terra para a Avaliação do Impacto do Ciclo de Vida no Brasil. Para tanto foi conduzida uma revisão bibliográfica sistemática, a qual subsidiou a descrição e análise de dezesseis principais modelos de caracterização para avaliação de impactos do uso da terra. Durante a etapa de análise, as informações referentes a cada modelo foram classificadas de acordo com diferentes critérios, como: abordagem midpoint/endpoint, área de cobertura, área de coleta dos dados, diferenciação bio-geográfica, tempo de recuperação, situação de referência, robustez científica e relevância ambiental. Observou-se que seis modelos, de abrangência de aplicação global, apresentam robustez científica e relevância ambiental satisfatória para a avaliação dos impactos nos serviços ecossistêmicos e na biodiversidade: Brandão & Milà i Canals (2013); Müller-Wenk & Brandão (2010); Nunez et al. (2010); Saad, Koellner, Margni (2013); Souza (2010); Souza et al. (2013). Outra contribuição do trabalho refere-se às recomendações para a adaptação de modelos de caracterização, visando a regionalização, para a qual uma série de elementos-chave deve ser considerada, tais como o mecanismo ambiental modelado, a tipologia de uso do solo, o nível de diferenciação bio-geográfica usado para o cálculo dos fatores de caracterização e a situação de referência utilizada. / The main technique for assessing the environmental impacts of the product life cycle is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). One of its phases, the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) refers to quantitative and / or qualitative process applied to the characterization and assessment of impacts associated with the life cycle inventory. Among the environmental impacts evaluated in LCA are those related to land use. A major challenge in the field of LCA refers to spatial and temporal differentiation in LCIA methods, especially for impacts due to land occupation and land transformation. It becomes necessary to develop models for the characterization and / or adapting existing ones so that they can consider regional environmental characteristics of each country, in order to obtain more consistent and accurate results. Therefore, this work aims to analyze the applicability and regionalization of the land use impacts characterization models in the Life Cycle Impact Assessment in Brazil. To achieve that, a systematic literature review was performed, which subsidized the description and analysis of sixteen major characterization models for land use impact assessment. During the analysis, the information regarding each model were classified according to different criteria, such as midpoint/ endpoint approach, coverage area, area of data collection, bio-geographical differentiation, recovery time, reference land use situation, scientific robustness and environmental relevance. It was observed that six models, with a global scope, present scientific robustness and environmental relevance sufficient for the assessment of impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services: Brandão & Milà i Canals (2013); Müller-Wenk & Brandão (2010); Nunez et al. (2010); Saad, Koellner, Margni (2013); Souza (2010); Souza et al. (2013). Another contribution of this work were the recommendations for adapting characterization models, for which a number of key elements must be considered, such as the modelled land use impact pathways, the land use typology, the level of bio-geographical differentiation used for the characterization factors and the reference land use situation.

Apesar de ser uma técnica de avaliação de impactos ambientais reconhecida e utilizada internacionalmente, a Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) encontra dificuldades em integrar aspectos espaciais e temporais em suas avaliações. Esta questão tem fomentado pesquisas voltadas à inserção da diferenciação espacial tanto na fase de inventário (ICV), por meio do levantamento de dados contendo informações espaciais em diversas escalas, quanto na fase de avaliação de impacto (AICV), por meio do desenvolvimento de fatores de caracterização espacialmente diferenciados. Os usos da terra e suas dinâmicas temporais e espaciais têm sido foco destas pesquisas de modo a verificar suas implicações sobre a biodiversidade e os serviços dos ecossistemas decorrentes, principalmente de atividades como a agricultura. Sendo a cana-de-açúcar a principal matéria-prima para o etanol combustível no Brasil e ocupando extensas áreas na Bacia Hidrográfica do Tietê-Jacaré-SP, o presente trabalho se propõe a discutir a aplicabilidade de modelos de caracterização de impactos relacionados aos usos da terra em uma abordagem específica ao local, adotando-se como base para aplicação o cenário de expansão da cana-de-açúcar nesta bacia. Para tal, foram selecionados três modelos de caracterização relacionados a três vias de impacto: biodiversidade, produção biótica potencial (PBP) e potencial de regulação da erosão (PRE). Esses modelos foram aplicados ao processo produtivo da cana-de-açúcar adaptando-os para a área de estudo, nos quais os dados de inventário foram levantados por meio dos softwares de SIG IDRISI TAIGA e ArcGis 10.2 e na literatura. Posteriormente esses modelos foram aplicados utilizando a abordagem loco-dependente e os resultados comparados com os da avaliação específica. Para a categoria biodiversidade houve maior dificuldade para obtenção de informações locais e, portanto, utilizou-se uma simplificação do modelo selecionado, não sendo possível sua aplicação loco-dependente. Já para as outras categorias, a aplicação apresentou acentuada diferenciação dos resultados em relação à abordagem loco-dependente, indicando que os valores globais de ICV sugeridos pelos autores para estas categorias não representam a realidade brasileira e, portanto, valores específicos ao local oferecem informações de maior qualidade para tomada de decisão em âmbito regional e local. Os resultados ainda apontam significativas diferenças nas avaliações segundo os diferentes tipos de solo e bioma nos quais ocorrerá a expansão da cana para as categorias PBP e PRE. Conclui-se que os modelos desenvolvidos para PBP e PRE possuem potencial de aplicação em escala local ao passo que os modelos desenvolvidos para biodiversidade necessitam de algumas simplificações e implicam em maiores incertezas. A disponibilidade dos dados necessários para esta abordagem pode constituir um fator limitante para sua aplicação, além disso, a escolha da melhor abordagem a ser utilizada irá depender dos objetivos do estudo. / Despite its international use and recognized nature as an Environmental Impact Assessment technique, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) leads to difficulties on integrating spatial and temporal aspects in their assessment. There has been a rising interest in researches related to the inclusion of spatial differentiation both in the inventory phase (LCI), through data collection containing spatial information at various scales, and in the impact assessment phase (LCIA), through the development of spatially explicit characterization factors. Land use and its temporal and spatial dynamics have receive priority attention in order to verify their implications on biodiversity and ecosystem services derived mainly from activities such as agriculture. Since sugarcane is the main raw material for fuel ethanol in Brazil and occupying large areas in the Tietê-Jacaré-SP watershed, this study aims to discuss the applicability of characterization models of impacts associated to land uses in a site specific approach, adopting as the basis for application the expansion scenario of sugarcane in this area. This has been done by selecting three characterization models related to three impact pathways: biodiversity, biotic production potential (BPP) and erosion regulation potential (ERP). These models were applied to the sugarcane production process by means of their adaptation to the area of study and taking into account the literature and the inventory collected through GIS software IDRISI TAIGA and ArcGIS 10.2. Later, these models were applied using the site-dependent approach and the results were compared to the site specific assessment. Obtaining local information of biodiversity impact category was found to be difficult, therefore, simplifications of the model selected were employed, not allowing site-dependent application. Regarding the other categories, the research results demonstrate pronounced differentiation compared to site-dependent approach. This indicate that global values used on the papers of de the models developed do not represent Brazilian reality and therefore site-specific assessments have greater benefit for decision making at regional and local level. Moreover, the assessments show significant differences according to different soil types and biome in which sugarcane expansion will occur for BPP and ERP impact categories. Against this backdrop, it is concluded that the models developed for BPP and ERP have potential of application at local scale while the models developed for biodiversity require some simplifications and imply greater uncertainty. The availability of necessary data to this approach can be a limiting factor in their application. Furthermore selecting the best approach to be used will depend on the objectives of the study.

A degradação ambiental proporcionada pelo consumo de produtos (JORGENSON, 2003) é fruto tanto da evolução de uma sociedade que se distancia da natureza (MORAN, 2011), quanto de suas reais necessidades (FRY, 2005). Da mesma forma, os interesses do mercado, de governos e de consumidores enrijecem a manutenção de uma sociedade hiperconsumista (FRY, 2005). Este fato é observado pela existência de políticas governamentais de consumo (corrente do consumo verde) que prezam pela rotulagem ambiental, depositam a responsabilidade da redução da degradação ambiental no consumidor (AKENJI, 2014), e que não consideram que o aumento da ecoeficiência, sem questionar quais são os limites ambientais impostos para a realização das atividades humanas, provocam um efeito de rebote que pode elevar ainda mais a degradação ambiental (HANLEY et al., 2009). Em contrapartida, a corrente do consumo sustentável afirma ser necessário repensar os níveis de consumo de modo a não ultrapassarmos os limites impostos pelo ambiente à realização das nossas atividades (AKENJI, 2014). Desta forma, a informação necessária para a corrente do consumo sustentável é aquela que indica em que medida as capacidades de suporte do ambiente foram superadas (ALCOTT, 2008). Dentre todos os instrumentos capazes de fornecer informação sobre os aspectos ambientais de produtos, a Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) é o único instrumento desenhado para avaliar as consequências ambientais relacionadas ao ciclo de vida de um produto (CHEHEBE, 1997). Entretanto, as evidências encontradas na bibliografia indicam que os métodos utilizados pela ACV para mensurar as consequências ambientais do produto (métodos de AICV - Avaliação do Impacto do Ciclo de Vida) foram estruturados para calcular majoritariamente a ecoeficiência dos produtos, pois são poucos (ou não indicados pela bibliografia) os casos em que a capacidade de suporte do ambiente é avaliada por estes métodos (POTTING; HAUSCHILD, 2006). Diante deste quadro, esta dissertação se propôs a avaliar se os métodos de AICV existentes estão alinhados à sustentabilidade forte ou se estão alinhados à sustentabilidade fraca. Dois critérios de avaliação foram definidos com base nos princípios da sustentabilidade forte: (i) O resultado do indicador da Categoria de Impacto deve apresentar quanto da capacidade de suporte foi ultrapassada ou não para as emissões relacionadas ao ciclo de vida do produto - alinhado ao princípio (a) da sustentabilidade forte, de que as atividades humanas devem ser limitadas à capacidade de suporte do ambiente (COSTANZA; DALY, 1992) - e, (ii) Todas as Categorias de Impacto (CIs) do método de AICV devem atender ao requisito (i) - alinhado ao princípio (b) da sustentabilidade forte, de que não há substitutabilidade completa entre os diferentes elementos do capital natural (COSTANZA; DALY, 1992). Dos métodos de AICV avaliados (CML 2002, Eco-Indicator 99, Eco-Factors 2006, EDIP 2003, IMPACT2002+, MEErP 2011) verificou-se que nenhum método está alinhado aos princípios da sustentabilidade forte, pois os critérios (i) e (ii) não foram atendidos concomitantemente. Desta forma, concluiu-se que por não estarem alinhados aos princípios da sustentabilidade forte, os métodos de AICV avaliados não são capazes de atender à demanda do consumo sustentável por informações. Sua utilização demonstra que as políticas de consumo verde continuam a depositar a maior responsabilidade pela reversão da degradação ambiental nos consumidores, sem alterar a estrutura sistêmica criada pelos governos, pelo mercado e consumidores na qual o hiperconsumo prevalece. / The environmental degradation provided by the consumption of products (JORGENSON, 2003) is the result of the evolution of a society that distances itself away from nature (MORAN, 2011) and from its real needs (FRY, 2005). At the same time, the interests of the market, governments and consumers maintain the hyper-consumption society (FRY, 2005). This fact is noticed by the presence of government consumption policies that appreciate environmental labeling, lay the responsibility for the reduction of the environmental degradation on the consumer (green consumption current) (AKENJI, 2014), and do not consider that the increase in eco-efficiency, without questioning the environmental limits for human activities, causes a rebound effect that can further raise environmental degradation (HANLEY et al., 2009). In contrast, the sustainable consumption current claims to be necessary to rethink consumption levels in order not to overpass the limits imposed by the environment for our activities (AKENJI, 2014). Thus, the necessary information for the sustainable consumption current is the one that indicates to what extent the environmental carrying capacity is exceeded (ALCOTT, 2008). Among all the instruments able to provide information on the environmental aspects of products, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the only instrument designed to assess the environmental consequences related to the life cycle of a product (CHEHEBE, 1997). However, the evidence found in the literature indicates that the methods used by LCA to measure the environmental impact of products (LCIA methods - Life Cycle Impact Assessment) were structured to mainly calculate the eco-efficiency of products, once there are only a few cases (or no indicated by references) in which the environmental carrying capacity is assessed by these methods (POTTING; HAUSCHILD, 2006). Given this context, this work aimed to evaluate whether existing LCIA methods are aligned to the strong or weak sustainability currents. Two evaluation criteria were defined on the basis of strong sustainability: (i) The results of the Impact Category indicator should present how much of the carrying capacity has been exceeded or not by the emissions related to the product life cycle according to the principle (a) of the strong sustainability, which states that human activities should be limited by the environmental carrying capacity (COSTANZA; DALY, 1992) - and (ii) All Impact Categories of a LCIA method must meet the requirement (i) - according to the principle (b) of the strong sustainability, which states that there is no complete substitutability between the different elements of natural capital (COSTANZA; DALY, 1992). From the evaluation of the LCIA methods (CML 2002, Eco-Indicator 99 Eco-Factors 2006, EDIP 2003 IMPACT2002+ and MEErP 2011) it was found that any of these methods are aligned with the principles of the strong sustainability, once the methods do not comply with criteria (i) and (ii ) concurrently. Thus, it was concluded that once they are not aligned to the principles of strong sustainability, the evaluated LCIA methods are not able to meet the demand of sustainable consumption for information. Its use demonstrates that green consumption policies continue to place the greatest responsibility for the reversal of the environmental degradation on consumers, without changing the systemic structure created by governments, the market and consumers in which hyper-consumption prevails.