title: Development of USEtox characterisation factors for dishwasher detergents using data made available under REACH.
abstract: Because of the more and more stringent regulations and customer demand, dishwasher detergent manufacturers are constantly improving the composition of the products towards better environmental performances. In order to quantify the pros and cons of these changes on the lifecycle of detergents, as compared to conventional products, the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a meaningful opportunity. However, the application of the methodology is hampered by the lack of Characterisation Factors (CFs) relative to the specific chemical substances included in the detergents composition, which cannot be included in the impact assessment of the effluent discharge. In this study we have tackled this problem, taking advantage of the specific case of three dishwasher detergents produced by the Chemolux/McBride group: phosphate-based, eco-labelled and phosphate-free formulations. Nine CFs for freshwater ecotoxicity and seven CFs for human toxicity have been developed, using the USEtox methodology and data made available under the REACH regulation. As a result, the dishwasher effluent composition could be characterised by more than 95% for freshwater ecotoxicity whereas for human toxicity the percentage was less than 36%, due to the lack of adequate and reliable repeated dose toxicity studies. The main contributing substances to freshwater ecotoxicity were found to be sodium percarbonate and sodium triphosphate, the latter confirming the pertinence of phosphates banning in the detergent industry. Regarding human toxicity, zinc shows the highest contribution. Further comparison to previous studies and sensitivity analysis substantiated the robustness of these conclusions.
authors: Public Research Centre Henri Tudor (CRPHT), Resource Centre for Environmental Technologies (CRTE), 6A, Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. Electronic address: elorri.igos@tudor.lu.
authors: Elorri
authors: E
authors: Igos
authors: Public Research Centre Henri Tudor (CRPHT), Resource Centre for Environmental Technologies (CRTE), 6A, Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Moeller
authors: Public Research Centre Henri Tudor (CRPHT), Resource Centre for Environmental Technologies (CRTE), 6A, Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Benetto
authors: Public Research Centre Henri Tudor (CRPHT), Resource Centre for Environmental Technologies (CRTE), 6A, Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors: Arno
authors: A
authors: Biwer
authors: Public Research Centre Henri Tudor (CRPHT), Resource Centre for Environmental Technologies (CRTE), 6A, Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors: Mélanie
authors: M
authors: Guiton
authors: Chemolux, McBride Group, Rue de l'Industrie, L-3895 Foetz, Luxembourg.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Dieumegard
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003902:Detergents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D010710:Phosphates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Detergent; LCA; LCIA; REACH; Toxicity; USEtox