How to calculate the characterisation factor for nanoparticle? A case study on n-TiO2

LCA has been addressed as a systematic tool to determine environmental impacts of nanotechnology product’s at sevearl stages of their life cycle. It is also recognized as a powerful tool to compare nanoproducts with conventional products. In spite of this only a few LCA studies on nanotechnology have been published to date and, even fewer assess the human and ecotoxicological impacts. Currently, the knowledge gaps in the field of risk assessment of nanotechnology are reflected in LCA, where characterisation factors (CFs) for toxic impact categories are missing. The determination of characterisation factors requires the knowledge of the environmental fate of a substance and its toxicity. Thus, the assessment of the environmental performance of nanoproducts requires in the first place, the development of CFs.