Beyond the Black Box of Life Cycle Assessment in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Which Help from Bioassays?

The assessment of the environmental footprint an organization or product is based on methods published by European Union Joint Research Centre, which take 16 impact areas into account. Among listed categories are human and freshwater ecosystem toxicities. Standard protocols utilize just chemical parameters as input data, hindering determination full complex mixes, such pollutants released environment. Biological assays enable us to overcome this gap: in present work, were employed determine both baseline specific toxicity aquatic species (green algae, luminescent bacteria, crustacean cladocera) well (mutagenicity carcinogenicity). Ecological was estimated with regard “freshwater toxicity” “human cancer following standard methodology. In parallel, above using results biological input. bioassay-based not always congruent, conventional generally underestimate effects. Likewise, choice reference substance (metals organics) influences quantification impact. Appropriate batteries could therefore be utilized complement LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) techniques order make them more sensitive when considering mid-term categories.