United States Solid Waste and
Environmental Protection Emergency Response
Agency (5306)
EPA530-R-95-009
PB95-191 227
April 1995
^ E PA Life Cycle Assessment
Public Data Sources for the
LCA Practitioner
-------
-------
LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT:
PUBLIC DATA SOURCES FOR THE LCA PRACTITIONER
Contract No. 68-CO-0003
Work Assignment No. 2-28
to
RISK REDUCTION ENGINEERING LABORATORY
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr. Eugene Lee
Work Assignment Manager (WAM)
Office of Solid Waste
Washington, D.C. 20460
by
Duane A. Tolle (Work Assignment Leader), Richard T. Lang,
John R. Becker, Kenneth D. Pugsley, and Bruce W. Vigon
BATTELLE
505 King Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43201-2693
March 1995
-------
NOTICE
The reader should be aware that the inclusion of a data base in this document does not
guarantee the quality of the data contained in the listed data bases. Although some limited
information on data quality is provided for individual data bases, the decision on whether the
data quality is sufficient for a particular LCA application is the responsibility of the LCA
practitioner.
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS viii
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Life-cycle Assessment 1
1.2 Data Considerations 3
1.3 Public Data Sources Addressed in this Report 4
1.4 Limitations and Constraints 5
CHAPTER 2 NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASES AND DATA BASE
CLEARINGHOUSES 7
2.1 Clearinghouse Descriptions 15
Chemical Information System (CIS) 15
DIALOG Information Retrieval Service (DIALOG) 16
Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS) 17
RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse (RBLC) 17
2.2 Data Base Profiles 17
304(1) 18
AIRS 20
AQUIRE 23
ARIP 26
ASHDISPOS 28
BLIS 30
BRS 33
CAIR 36
CCRIS 39
CESARS 42
CHEM- INTELL 44
CUS 47
"DSOSS" 50
EDB 53
EFDB 56
EFG 59
"GTOM/YR" 62
HSDB 64
IRIS 67
IRPTC 70
"MCDB" 73
ill
-------
MINES 75
NATICH 77
ODES 80
PADS 83
PCS 85
PHYTOTOX 88
PISCES 91
PPIS 93
RCRIS 95
REPROTOX 97
RTECS 99
SimaPro 101
STORET 104
TERRE-TOX 107
TRI 110
WATSTORE 113
WBS 115
WHOWMO 117
CHAPTER 3 BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASE SUMMARY 120
3.1 Bibliographic Data Sources 123
ACID RAIN 123
AGRICOLA 123
BIOLOGICAL & AGRICULTURAL INDEX 124
CHEMICAL BUSINESS NEWSBASE (CBNB) 124
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY NOTES (GIN) 125
CHEMICAL SAFETY NEWSBASE (CSNB) 125
COAL DATA BASE 125
CROP PROTECTION CHEMICALS REFERENCE 126
DERWENT CROP PROTECTION FILE (PESTDOC) 126
DHSS-HEF 126
ECOMINE 127
EDF-DOC 127
ELECTRIC POWER DATABASE (EPD) 128
EMTOX 128
ENERGY BIBLIOGRAPHY & INDEX (EBI) 129
ENERGY INFORMATION DATABASE 129
ENERGY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (EST) 130
ENERGYLINE 130
ENVIROLINE 131
ENVIRONMENTAL BIBLIOGRAPHY 131
FOOD RA ONLINE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION
(FROSTI) 132
FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ABSTRACTS (FSTA) 132
IPABASE 132
NATURAL PRODUCTS ALERT (NAPRALERT) 133
IV
-------
NTIS BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASE 133
PACKAGING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ABSTRACTS (PSTA) 134
PAPERCHEM 134
POLLUTION ABSTRACTS 135
POWER 135
RAPRA ABSTRACTS 136
SILICA (SYSTEM FOR INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE
INFORMATION ON CERAMICS AND GLASS) 136
TOXIC NEWS 137
5009 TOXLINE 137
TULSA 139
WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE RECOVERY 140
WASTEINFO 140
WATER RESOURCES ABSTRACTS (WRA) 141
WORLD ALUMINUM ABSTRACTS (WAA) 141
WORLD CERAMICS ABSTRACTS 142
WORLD INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT (WICE) . . 142
CHAPTER 4 ON-GOING STUDIES AND FOREIGN DATA BASES 143
4.1 On-going Studies 143
LCI Data Modules of Eight Thermoplastics 143
LCI of Residential Nylon Carpeting 144
LCIs of Twenty Commodity Materials 145
ECOTOX Data Base 145
U.S. Bureau of Mines, MINES FaxBack System 145
4.2 Foreign Data Bases 146
BUWAL '84 and '90 147
EMPA 147
International Database for Ecoprofile Analysis (IDEA) 147
SimaPro 2.0 148
LCA Inventory Tool (LCAIT) 149
Product Improvement Assessment (PIA) 149
Boustead Data Base from the Open University of the U.K 149
Packaging Industry Research Association (PIRA) 150
Plastic Waste Management Institute (PWMI) 150
CHAPTER 5 REFERENCES 151
5.1 Literature Cited 151
5.2 Other References 152
-------
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix A List of Acronym Definitions A-1
Appendix B Methods B-1
B.1 Screening of Non-bibliographic Data Bases B-1
B.1.1 Initial Screening B-1
B.1.2 Secondary Screening B-4
B.1.3 Data Profiles B-5
B.2 Data Base Clearinghouses B-6
B.3 Bibliographic Data Sources B-6
B.4 On-Going Studies B-6
B.5 Foreign Data Bases B-6
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Categories of LCA Information Available from Selected Non-Bibliographic Data
Bases 8
Table 2 Non-Bibliographic Data Bases Available Through Clearinghouses 10
Table 3 Bibliographic Data Bases Organized by General Topic 129
Table B-1 Data Bases That Qualified for Profiles B-8
Table B-2 Data Bases That Did Not Meet the Minimum Profiling Score B-10
Table B-3 Data Bases That Did Not Pass Stage One B-11
VI
-------
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this document is to provide the life-cycle assessment (LCA) practitioner with
potentially useful public data sources for preparing LCAs. This document may be particularly
useful to beginning LCA practitioners and organizations without access to proprietary industry
data. Established LCA practitioners may benefit from the identification and assessment of the
wide variety of data bases presented in this report for potential use in preparing LCAs.
LCA is a systematic method for identifying, evaluating, and minimizing the environmental
consequences of resource usage and environmental releases associated with a product,
process, or package. The primary emphasis of this document is to present publicly available
non-bibliographic data bases which may be of use during the conduct of LCAs. Other types
of data sources, evaluated in less detail, include: bibliographic data bases, data base
clearinghouses, on-going studies, and foreign data bases. The identification of data sources
in this report is limited to electronic data bases.
VII
-------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This document was prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of
Research and Development (ORD), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS),
Office of Solid Waste (OSW), and Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT). Eugene
Lee of OSW, Washington, D.C., served as Work Assignment Manager. Additional EPA
guidance, reviews, and comments were provided by Mary Ann Curran (ORD), Chuck French
(OAQPS), Eun-Sook Goidel (OPPT), Lynda Wynn (OSW), and Timothy Mohin (OAQPS). The
technical work was conducted under Battelle/EPA Contract No. 68-CO-0003 with Duane A.
Tolle as Work Assignment Leader. Richard T. Lang, John R. Becker, Kenneth D. Pugsley,
and Bruce W. Vigon provided technical contributions. Preparation of the final document was
conducted under Research Triangle Institute (RTI) Contract No. 944-5810-49 with Keith Weitz
serving as Work Assignment Leader providing technical contributions.
Peer reviewers included: Paul Arbesman, Allied-Signal; Derek Augood, Scientific Certification
Systems; Bob Berkebile, American Institute of Architects; Terrie Boguski, Franklin Associates;
Michael Brown, Patagonia; Frank Consoli, Scott Paper; Gary Davis, University of Tennessee,
Energy, Environment, and Resources Center; Richard Denison, Environmental Defense Fund;
Dr. James Fava, Roy F. Weston Corp.; Kate Gross, The Body Shop, Inc.; Dr. Michael
Harrass, Amoco; Frances Irwin, World Wildlife Fund; Greg Keoleian, University of Michigan,
School of Natural Resources; John Kusz, Safety-Kleen; Beth Quay, The Coca-Cola Company;
Athena Sarafides, NJ Department of Environmental Protection; Jacinthe Sequin, Environment
Canada; Karen Shapiro, Tellus; Donald Walukas, Concurrent Technologies Corporation; Arthur
Weissman, Green Seal, Inc.; and Dr. John Young, Hampshire Research Institute. Additional
comments were provided by John Wilkens, DuPont; David Wheeler, The Body Shop, Inc.; and
Joel Ann Todd, The Scientific Consulting Group, Inc.
Views contained in this document may not necessarily reflect those of individual reviewers.
VIII
-------
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this document is to present the life-cycle assessment (LCA) practitioner with
potentially useful public data sources for preparing LCAs. This document may be particularly
useful to beginning LCA practitioners and organizations without access to proprietary industry
data. Established LCA practitioners may also benefit from the identification and assessment
of the wide variety of data bases presented in this report for potential use in preparing LCAs.
The public data sources described in this document include non-bibliographic data bases
(data are directly accessible on-line), bibliographic data bases (data must be extracted off-line
from bibliographic references), data base clearinghouses, on-going studies, and foreign data
bases. Of these potential LCA data sources, the greatest emphasis was placed on identifying
and creating LCA data base profiles of the non-bibliographic databases. These profiles
contain a brief assessment of the potential relevance of the data base to LCA, a description of
the information contained in the data base, and basic data base system information. General
criteria for the electronic data bases identified in this report include potential applicability of the
data sources to either life-cycle inventory analysis or impact assessment and the availability of
the data to the public at low or no cost. See Appendix A for a list of acronyms, including all
data bases discussed.
1.1 Life-cycle Assessment
LCA is a systematic method for identifying, evaluating, and minimizing the environmental
consequences of resource usage and environmental releases associated with a product,
process, or package. LCA takes a comprehensive approach by analyzing the entire life cycle,
which includes the following four stages: raw materials acquisition, manufacturing,
use/reuse/maintenance, and recycle/waste management (EPA, 1993). LCA has traditionally
been used by industry to guide internal decision-making on product and process changes.
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of groups conducting life-cycle
assessment. Potential future applications include increased use of LCA by regulatory
agencies as a guide in policy-making, use of LCA as a decision support tool in corporate
-------
policy-making, use by public interest groups, and increased use of LCA in environmental
marketing.
A complete LCA consists of three components:
1) Inventory Analysis - a technical, data-based process of quantifying energy and
raw material requirements, atmospheric emissions, and solid waste for the entire
life cycle of a product, process, or package. The four stages of the inventory
analysis are raw materials acquisition, manufacturing, use/reuse/maintenance, and
recycle/waste management.
2) Impact Assessment - a technical, quantitative, and/or qualitative process of
characterizing and assessing the effects of the resource requirements and
environmental loadings identified in the inventory component. The assessment
should address ecological impacts, human health impacts, and resource depletion.
3) Improvement Assessment - a systematic evaluation of the needs and
opportunities to reduce environmental burdens associated with energy, raw
materials use, and waste emissions throughout the life cycle of a product, process,
or package (Fava et al., 1991; U.S. EPA, 1993).
LCAs can provide valuable information to effect environmental improvements. Identification of
opportunities to reduce burdens to the environment can occur during any of the three
components of LCA. For example, the inventory component alone may be used to show
where an input or output is highest in a given process and, therefore, direct opportunities for
reducing emissions, energy consumption, and material use. The impact assessment attempts
to use information on environmental effects, moving beyond the numerical quantification of
inputs and outputs of the inventory data. Improvement analysis, though not well-developed
from a methodological standpoint, provides information which helps ensure that environmental
benefits are optimized and adverse impacts to human health and the environment are not
created as improvement opportunities are implemented.
LCA is a dynamic tool to aid environmental decision-making; and methods for conducting
LCAs are still under development. Of the three LCA components, methods for performing the
life-cycle inventory (LCI) analysis are the best developed. LCIs are generally performed prior
-------
to either of the other two LCA components, because LCls identify and define the inputs,
operations, and outputs of a system under study. EPA (1993) has published a document,
"Life-Cycle Assessment: Inventory Guidelines and Principles," which provides a set of
guidelines and principles for implementation of a product life-cycle assessment, including
defining goals and system boundaries, gathering and developing data, presenting and
reviewing data, and interpreting and communicating results. The Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) has also been active in the field of LCA, publishing
technical and conceptual reports on life-cycle inventory analysis (Fava et. al., 1991) and
impact assessment (Fava et. al., 1993).
1.2 Data Considerations
Each component of the LCA relies heavily on adequate and relevant data. At the most basic
level, LCA data can be categorized as primary data or secondary data. Primary data are
plant-specific or process-specific data which the LCA practitioner can directly access or
influence the data collection process. Secondary data, which is the category of data sources
addressed in this report, are publicly available data which have not been collected specifically
for the purpose of conducting LCAs and for which the LCA practitioner has no input into the
data collection process (EPA, 1994).
LCA is a very data-intensive undertaking which can involve the collection and processing of
hundreds or thousands of data points. Although the specific data needs of the LCA
practitioner vary from one LCA to another, certain types of data are generally needed to
perform LCAs. Data needs for the LCA components discussed earlier typically include:
-------
Facility-, industry-, process-, and/or product-specific information on:
- Energy Use
- Raw materials acquisition or use/requirements for manufacturing, processing, and
formulation
- Regulated environmental releases (e.g., waterborne emissions, airborne
emissions, solid waste)
- Transportation and distribution
- Post-consumer use/reuse/maintenance and recycle/waste management
Information to evaluate environmental effects for an impact analysis:
- Biological or toxicological effects
- Chemical properties or chemical effects modeling to predict potential biological
effects
- Ambient or background level information
Public data sources are typically used by LCA practitioners to fill primary data gaps and to
create data sets which are representative of aggregate or national average figures. For
example, a public data source containing aggregated information on a commodity material
may better reflect the mix of facilities or processes for the material than plant-specific
manufacturing data for a particular facility.
1.3 Public Data Sources Addressed in this Report
The focus of this report is on secondary data sources that are publicly available and readily
accessible by any LCA practitioner. Five types of data sources are discussed:
-------
Non-bibliographic data bases containing on-line information covering resource use;
energy consumption; environmental emissions; chemical, biological, or
toxicological effects; etc. The data are directly accessible to any LCA practitioner.
Data base clearinghouses, which are on-line services, both government and
private, that facilitate the retrieval of information from a variety of data bases and
bibliographies.
Bibliographic data bases (i.e., on-line, computer data bases containing
bibliographic information). The data contained in these data bases are not directly
accessible, but must be extracted from bibliographic references.
On-going studies; several U.S. LCI data base projects were identified which may
provide valuable information in the future.
Foreign data bases, a limited number of non-bibliographic data bases (primarily
from Western Europe) were identified which are publicly available and are being
used by LCA practitioners in Europe.
1.4 Limitations and Constraints
This section describes the limitations and constraints on the information contained in this
document. LCAs rely on a multitude of data sources. The focus of this document is on
secondary data sources which are publicly available and readily accessible by any LCA
practitioner. Given that secondary data sources are those data sources which have been
developed for purposes other than LCA, the data sources described in this document are all
likely to contain substantial data gaps in regard to any particular LCA. There are no
comprehensive data bases currently available which provide all of the needed information for
conducting LCAs. Specific examples of data gaps include a lack of information on energy
used for transportation in the non-bibliographic data bases, and the fact that few data bases
contain detailed information on manufacturing processes or product formulations. This level of
detail is often necessary for conducting reliable LCAs. Most manufacturers typically have
detailed information on their manufacturing processes and formulations. However, this type of
primary data is rarely made available publicly because the data are considered confidential
business information and are proprietary. Although government data bases that contain
information on manufacturing, processing, or formulations have the potential to be useful,
confidentiality clauses often require the public release of only aggregated data. Reducing the
level of detail by aggregating data tends to increase the variability and reduce the reliability of
-------
results. However, in many instances, the use of aggregated data is acceptable.
Confidentiality considerations and the resultant aggregation of data are common barriers
confronting the LCA practitioner.
Listing of data bases in this document does not constitute endorsement for their use in LCAs.
In addition, the reader should be aware that the inclusion of a data base in this document
does not guarantee the quality of the data contained in the data base. Although individual
data bases are profiled and descriptions of data and system information are provided, the
decision of whether data quality is sufficient for a particular LCA application is the
responsibility of the LCA practitioner. EPA has developed a document providing guidelines for
assessing LCI data quality. This document, "Guidelines for Assessing the Quality of Life-
Cycle Inventory Data," describes a general, systematic approach for assessing LCI data
quality based on data quality goals, data quality indicators, and documentation of practitioner
judgements (EPA, 1994).
There are potential sources of LCA data in data bases that will be available in the near future
from trade associations and government agencies. For example, the American Plastics
Council is currently developing a data base containing LCI data on eight thermoplastic resins.
This data base and others were not yet available at the time this document was written, and
are discussed in Section 4.1, On-going Studies.
This document provides an overview of potential sources of publicly available LCA data.
However, because many of these data bases have not been tested in LCA application, the of
the data base for application to LCA is somewhat uncertain. Practitioners may need to review
a number of different data bases to identify which would be most useful for their purposes. To
better identify the usefulness of data bases for specific LCA applications, an LCA data base
user response form is provided in Appendix C of this document. The intent of this form is to
provide a mechanism for gathering useful information on the applicability of specific data
bases to LCA. Practitioners are encouraged to copy this form as needed and use it to
evaluate data bases after review or use, so that the information can be compiled and
disseminated.
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CHAPTER 2
NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASES AND DATA BASE CLEARINGHOUSES
A total of eighty-five non-bibliographic data bases were evaluated for their potential use in
LCAs. Of this number, 39 data bases are profiled in this report. All of the data bases were
evaluated first for applicability to life-cycle inventory or impact assessment, availability to the
public, and probable ease of use. Those data bases which looked promising were analyzed
further on availability and consistency of the data collection methodology, representativeness
of current technology, age of the data, completeness, and ability to sort data geographically.
For a more detailed discussion of the screening criteria for the non-bibliographic data bases,
refer to Appendix B.
Each data base profile begins with a summary description and point of contact for the data
base followed by three sections describing the 1) potential relevance of the data base to
LCAs, 2) a ten-point description of the data, and 3) basic system information for the data
base. The non-bibliographic data bases profiled in this report are referenced by their potential
applicability to LCAs and data specificity in Table 1. Using this table, the LCA practitioner can
get a quick sense of the variety of data contained in each data base. For example, Table 1
indicates that the Biennial Reporting System (BRS) data base may contain useful facility-
specific data for each stage of a life-cycle inventory analysis. The BRS data base does not
appear to contain useful information for the conduct of impact assessment.
The non-bibliographic data bases profiled in this document are available from a variety of
sources at a variety of costs. Table 2 provides dial-in access/contact numbers and cost
information for each of the non-bibliographic data bases included in this document. The cost
for on-line data bases are generally based on a flat-fee plus a user connect-time for
clearinghouses. The convenience of accessing the data bases through a clearinghouse is
generally reflected in their higher costs. It should be noted that the contact numbers and fees
listed in Table 2 are subject to change.
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TABLE 1. CATEGORIES OF LCA INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM SELECTED
NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASES (CONTINUED)
1 Database*
304(1)
1 AIRS
1 AQU1RE
ARIP
ASHD1SPOS
BUS
BRS
CAIR
CCRIS
CESARS
1 CHEWMNTELL
Ileus
i "DSOSS"
I EDB
I EFDB
EFG
"GTOM/YR"
HSDB
IRIS
IRPTC
Page
No.
18
20
23
26
28
30
33
36
39
42
44
47
50
53
56
59
62
64
67
70
1 "WICDB" 1 73
LCA Application11
Inventory (2)
Inventory (2,3,4)
Impact (10)
Impact (5,7,8)
Inventory (2)
Impact (5)
Inventory (4)
Impact (1O)
Inventory (2,4)
Inventory (1 ,2,3,4)
Inventory (1 ,2)
Impact (5,7,8)
Impact (5)
Inventory (2)
Impact (5,7)
Inventory (1 ,2)
Inventory (1 ,2)
Impact (5,7)
Inventory (1,3)
Impact (5,7)
Inventory (1 ,2)
Impact (1 0)
Inventory (1,2)
Inventory (2)
Impact (5,7,10)
Impact (5,7,8)
Inventory (1 ,2,3,4)
Impact (5,6,7,8)
Inventory (1 ,2)
Media
Covered11
W
A
W
A,W
W,L,SW
A
A,W,L,SW
A,W,L,SW
A,L,W
A,W
na
A,W,L,SW
L
A,W,L,SW
W,SW
W
NA
A,W,L,SW
A,W
A,W,L,SW
L,SW
Data
Specificity11
na
F
C
1
F
F
F
PC,I,F
C
C
PD,C
C
PD,C
PC
C
F
PC
C
C
C
PD,PC,I,F
Data Age8
current
1 957-date
1 972-date
1 988-date
1989 only
current
1981 -date
1991 -date
current
1992
1 973-date
1990
na
1992
na
current
current
current
current
1 989-date
current
Update
Frequency
biannually
daily
quarterly
monthly
na
monthly
biannually ||
na
monthly
na
monthly
every 4
years
biannually
continually
periodically
na
annually
monthly
monthly
na
continually
CONTINUED...
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TABLE 1. CATEGORIES OF LCA INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM SELECTED
NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASES (CONTINUED)
Database"
MINES
NATICH
ODES
PADS
PCS
PHYTOTOX
PISCES
PPIS
RCRIS
REPROTOX
RTECS
STORET
TERRE-TOX
TRI
|| WHOWMO
Page
No. |
75
77
80
83
85
88
91
93
95
97
99
101
104
107
110
113
115
117
LCA Application11
Inventory {1 )
Impact (9)
Inventory (2)
Impact (5,10)
Inventory (2,3,4)
Impact (6,7,8,10)
Inventory (4)
Inventory (2,4)
Impact (5)
Impact (5)
Inventory (2)
Impact (7,8)
Inventory (2)
Inventory (3,4)
Impact (1 0)
Impact (5)
Impact (5,7)
Inventory (1,2,4)
Inventory (4)
Impact (1 0)
Impact (5)
Inventory (2,4)
Impact (1 0)
Impact (1 0)
Impact (6,10)
Media
Covered0
A,W,L
A
W
SW
W
L,SW
A,W,L,SW
A,W,L,SW
A,W,L,SW
NA
A,W,L
A,W,SW
W
L
A,W,L,SW
W
W
A,W
Data
Specificity" |
PD,I
PD,I,F
F
F
PC,F
C
PC,F
PD
F
C
C
PD,PC,I,F
F
C
PD,I,F
F
C
na
Data Age" |
^•"H
na
1 984-date
current
current
current
1986
current
current
current
current
current
current
1 980-date
1989
1 987-date
current
current
1 972-date
Update
Frequency
• na
annually
biweekly
weekly
biweekly
periodically
regularly
regularly
quarterly
weekly
quarterly
annually
weekly
na
continually
na
biannually
weekly
"Data base acronyms are defined in Appendix A.
bKey to LCA application is as follows:
Inventory:
1—raw materials acquisition
2—manufacturing
3—use/reuse/maintenance
4—recycle/waste management
Impact: 5—biological effects
6—ecosystem effects
7—chemical properties
8—chemical modeling
9—resource depletion
1O—background concentration
"A=air, W=water, L=land, SW=solid waste.
dPD=product, PC=process, I=industry, F=facility , C=chemical.
•Current data includes that equal to or less that one year old.
-------
TABLE 2. NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASE DIAL-IN CONTACT
AND COST INFORMATION
Database
Contact/Dial-in Number
Cost
304(1)
Deborah Clovis (202) 260-9519
No Cost for hardcopy - no electronic
access
AIRS
AIRS User Support (919) 541-7862
NTIS: Contact Subscription Department
(703) 487-4630 to receive subscription
information.
National Computer Center (NCC): non-
EPA users must complete an interagency
agreement. May be easier to obtain data
through NTIS.
Need EPA/AIRS id number to
access.
NTIS: $15/month plus connect time
NCC cost varies by type of computer
and type of information requested
AQUIRE
On-Line/VAX:
• Chemical Information Systems (CIS):
Contact (800) 247-8737 to receive
subscription information.
• Technical Database Services (212) 245-
0044
• NTIS: Contact Subscription Department
(703) 487-4630 to receive subscription
information.
Database Retrieval:
JSF Environmental Software (508) 369-
1002
Spectrum Research (218) 525-5322
CIS: $300/yr. flat rate plus connect
time ($1 to $2 per minute)
TDS: $700 subscription fee plus
$120 per connect hour
NTIS: $15/month flat rate plus
connect time
JSF: $940 flat fee plus $400 per
yearly updates
Spectrum: Not available
ARIP
Contact David Chung (202)260-8942 at
EPA Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response for information.
No cost
ASHDISPOS
Contact Victor Lambou (904) 644-5516 at
EPA Office of Research and Develop-
ment, Florida State University for
information.
Not available
BUS
Contact the EPA Technology Transfer
Network (TTN) Bulletin Board at (919)
541-5742.
• No cost
BRS
On-Line/VAX:
• National Computer Center (NCC): non-
EPA users must complete an interagency
agreement. May be easier to obtain data
through NTIS.
Data Retrieval:
• State Agencies
• EPA Office of Solid Waste
NCC cost varies by type of computer
and type of information requested
No cost
No cost
CONTINUED
10
-------
TABLE 2. NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASE DIAL-IN CONTACT
AND COST INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
Database
Contact/Dial-in Number
Cost
CAIR
Must prepare FOIA request to EPA Office
of Toxic Substances (OTS). Contact
Joanne Martin (202) 260-0431 for
information.
No cost
CCRIS
Through TOXNET: contact the National
Library of Medicine (NLM) (800) 638-
8480 to obtain a user ID application.
Chemical Information Systems (CIS):
Contact (800) 247-8737 to receive
subscription information.
COMPUSERVE
All NLM data bases (including
TOXNET) are roughly $18/hour. No
start-up or monthly fee.
CIS: $300/yr. flat rate plus connect
time ($1 to $2 per minute)
CESARS
Chemical Information Systems (CIS):
Contact (800) 247-8737 to receive
subscription information.
NTIS: Contact Subscription Department
(703) 487-4630 to receive subscription
information.
CCINFO
CIS: $300/yr. flat rate plus connect
time ($1 to $2 per minute)
NTIS: $15/month plus connect time
CCINFO: Not available
CHEM-INTELL
Contact Julie Chatterjee 44-34-233-5885
at Chemical Intelligence Services,
England for information.
Not available
cus
Must prepare FOIA request to EPA Office
of Toxic Substances (OTS). Contact
Joanne Martin (202) 260-0431 for
information.
No cost
"DSOSS"
Contact Tamar Gund (201) 596-3669 at
the Emission Reduction Research Center
for information.
Won't be available to public until
mid-1994; cost not yet established
EDB
Contact Michael Lazarus for purchasing
EBD diskette
Free for developing countries; $1000
for public institutions; $5000 for
private institutions.
EFDB
Contact Phil Howard (315) 426-3350 for
subscription application to on-line
services or to purchase EFDB diskettes.
On-line: $25 subscription and $150
per connect-hour.
Diskettes: $4000
CONTINUED
11
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TABLE 2. NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASE DIAL-IN CONTACT
AND COST INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
Database
EFG
"GTOM/YR"
HSDB
IRIS
IRPTC
"MCDB"
MINES
NAT1CH
ODES
PADS
PCS
Contact/Dial-in Number
• Contact Eric Strassler (202) 260-7120;
will forward user to appropriate industry
representative (grouped by Clean Water
Act class)
• Contact the Utility Data Institute (800)
486-3660 to receive hard copy report
and/or diskette.
• Through TOXNET: contact the National
Library of Medicine (NLM) (800) 638-
8480 to obtain a user ID application.
• Through TOXNET: contact the National
Library of Medicine (NLM) (800) 638-
8480 to obtain a user ID application.
• Contact Emma McNamara (202) 260-
1522 at EPA Office of Information
Resources Management for information.
• Contact Abby Scheiner (800) 743-1060 at
the Plastics Technology Magazine to
receive data (hardcopy or diskette).
• Contact MINES Bulletin Board (202) 501-
0373 for on-line access information.
• Contact the EPA Technology Transfer
Network (TTN) Bulletin Board (919) 541-
5742 /Telnet:
TTNBBS.RTP.NC.EPA.GOV for access
information.
• Contact Bob King (202)260-7028 at EPA
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and
Watersheds for information.
• Contact Jeraldine Hilton (202) 260-3967
for hard copy of data.
• Submit FOIA request to EPA regional
office or headquarters.
• NTIS: Contact Subscription Department
(703) 487-4630 to receive subscription
information.
Cost*
• Cost would vary by the type of data
and level of manipulation needed.
Can estimate if user Contacts with
detailed request.
• Report alone: $225; report and
diskette: $500
• All NLM data bases (including
TOXNET) are roughly $18/hour. No
start-up or monthly fee.
• All NLM data bases (including
TOXNET) are roughly $18/hour. No
start-up or monthly fee.
« No cost (for reasonable requests)
• Prices range from $2 to $24 for data
on a per facility basis.
• No cost
• No cost
• No cost
• No cost
• Cost varies by amount of information
requested ($25-1 OOOs)
• NTIS: $15/month plus connect time
CONTINUED
12
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TABLE 2. NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASE DIAL-IN CONTACT
AND COST INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
Database
Contact/Dial-in Number
Cost
PHYTOTOX
CIS: Contact (800) 247-8737 to receive
subscription information.
NTIS: Contact Subscription Department
(703) 487-4630 to receive subscription
information.
CIS: $300/yr. flat rate plus connect
time ($1 to $2 per minute)
NTIS: $15/month plus connect time
PISCES
Send fax to (415) 855-2002 at the
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
with a detailed description of the
information needed. EPRI will send
licensing agreement form for user to
complete. Contact Barbara Toole-O'Neil
at (415) 855-1005 for additional
information.
• No cost
PPIS
Contact Cherly Bradley (703) 305-5981
or Jim Beech (703) 305-5439 at EPA
Office of Pollution Prevention for
information.
CERIS
No cost
CERIS: Not available
RCRIS
Contact Lisa Herns (202) 260-4697 at
EPA Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response for information.
« No cost
REPROTOX
Contact Kay Padgett (202) 293-5137 at
the Reproductive Toxicology Center,
Columbia Hospital for Women Medical
Center to receive on-line subscription
information.
• Individual $200/yr
• Individual/group associated with
hospital, education, or government
$400/yr
• Individual/group associated with for
profit organization $850/yr
**$350/yr for quarterly update diskette
RTECS
DIALOG
Through TOXNET: contact the National
Library of Medicine (NLM) (800) 638-
8480 to obtain a user ID application.
CIS): Contact (800) 247-8737 to receive
subscription information.
CCINFOLINC
DIALOG: Not available
All NLM data bases (including
TOXNET) are roughly $18/hour.
start-up or monthly fee.
No
CIS: $300/yr. flat rate plus connect
time ($1 to $2 per minute)
CCINFOLINC: Not available
CONTINUED
13
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TABLE 2. NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASE DIAL-IN CONTACT
AND COST INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
Database
SImaPro
STORET
TERRE-TOX
TR1
WATSTORE
WBS
WHOWMO
Contact/Dial-in Number
• Contact Pre1 Consultants 31 /(O) 71-
277486 at the Center for Environmental
Sciences, Leiden University, The
Netherlands for information.
• NTIS: Contact Subscription Department
(703) 487-4630 to receive subscription
information.
• NTIS: Contact Subscription Department
(703) 487-4630 to receive subscription
information.
• Through TOXNET: contact the National
Library of Medicine (NLM) (800) 638-
8480 to obtain a user ID application.
• NTIS: Contact Subscription Department
(703) 487-4630 to receive subscription
information.
- GPO
• Contact Jim Burton (703) 648-5684 at the
U.S. Geological Survey to set up on-line
account.
• Contact State Agencies
• National Computer Center (NCC): non-
EPA users must complete an interagency
agreement. May be easier to obtain data
through NTIS.
• Contact Gardner Evans (919) 541-3887
at EPA Office of Research and
Development for information.
Cost*
• Not available
• NTIS: $15/month plus connect time
• NTIS: $15/month plus connect time
• All NLM data bases (including
TOXNET) are roughly $18/hour. No
start-up or monthly fee.
• NTIS: $15/month plus connect time
• Cost based on connect-hours.
• Not available
« NCC cost varies by type of computer
and type of information requested
• No cost
NOTE: Cost information is subject to change.
14
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2.1 Clearinghouse Descriptions
Several data base clearinghouses also available to the public. Clearinghouses are extremely
useful for obtaining substantial amounts of information from one source, to use for conducting
life-cycle inventory analyses and impact assessments. Clearinghouses enable access to a
number of data bases with broad subject ranges. Information can be obtained from non-
bibliographic and bibliographic data bases from one computer terminal. Access to
clearinghouses may reduce costs and time involved in data collection activities required for
LCAs by providing access to more than one data base from a central location. Several data
base clearinghouses are available both through Federal government agencies and commercial
means. Only the clearinghouses which access data bases that qualified for profiling are
included in this section. Table 3 provides a listing of the non-bibliographic data bases
available through several of the clearinghouses determined to contain information relevant for
conducting LCAs.
Chemical Information System (CIS)
The CIS clearinghouse provides on-line access to a series of data bases containing chemical
information on specific chemical substances including toxicological and/or carcinogenic
research data, hazardous materials handling information, regulatory information, spectroscopic
data, chemical/physical property information, safety and health effects information, and
pharmaceutical information. Each component of the CIS is essentially a "stand-alone" system
dealing with a particular aspect of chemistry, toxicology, and environmental pollution. Nearly
all CIS data bases contain quantitative data, in addition to bibliographic references. Some
contain the full text of the source material. Specific chemical substances can be located in
the CIS data bases by chemical name or CAS Registry Number. Both full and partial
structure searches may also be used to identify chemicals of interest. All components are
prepared according to a standard set of CIS guidelines so that they can .share utility software
and communicate with each other. Standard data base cross-reference procedures allow the
user to conduct composite searches dealing with various subjects, and, similarly, to display
information on those subjects from the various data bases in which it is found. Additional
information can be obtained from Chemical Information Systems, Inc., 7215 York Road,
Baltimore, MD 21212, (410) 321-8440 or (800) CIS-USER.
15
-------
TABLE 3. NON-BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASES AVAILABLE THROUGH
CLEARINGHOUSES
Data Baso Acronym*
AIRS
AQUIRE
BUS
CCRIS
CESARS
CHEM-INTEU.
HSDB
IRIS
NAT1CH
PHYTOTOX
RTECS
TIM
Page No.
14
18
27
36
39
42
63
66
77
90
103
115
Contains Data For:
Inventory
X
X
X
X
X
X
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Data Base Clearinghouses
CIS
X
X
X
X
X
X
MEDLARS/TOXNET
X
X
X
X
X
RBLC
X
X
X
DIALOG
X
X
X
"See Appendix A for acronym definitions.
DIALOG Information Retrieval Service (DIALOG)
The DIALOG clearinghouse was established in 1972 with over 380 data bases from a broad
scope of disciplines. The data bases on the DIALOG system contain in excess of 260 million
records including non-bibliographic and bibliographic data bases. Subject coverage includes
science, business, technology, chemistry, law, medicine, engineering, social sciences, and
economics. The data bases are regularly updated with the most recent information available.
The majority of databases include menu-driven search capabilities through the PC-based, 24-
hour accessibility system. Additional information can be obtained from DIALOG Information
Services Inc., 3460 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304, (800) 334-2564.
16
-------
Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS)
The National Library of Medicines computer-based MEDLARS clearinghouse was established
to achieve quick bibliographic access to the NLM's vast store of biomedical information.
Among the databases developed by the NLM's Toxicology Information Program (TIP) are the
Toxicology Information On-line (TOXLINE), CHEMLINE, and CHEMID. The latter two are
chemical directory files. TIP also implemented the Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET)
system of 12 lexicologically oriented data banks. As part of the MEDLARS System, TOXNET
is a computerized collection of non-bibliographic and bibliographic data bases on toxicology,
hazardous chemicals and related areas. Quantitative data are available through TOXNET.
Additional information can be obtained from the National Library of Medicine, Specialized
Information Services, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894, (800) 638-8480.
RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse (RBLC)
EPA established the RBLC to assist State and local air pollution control personnel in making
control technology determinations and in sharing technology information. The RBLC also
summarizes recent determinations for sources of similar size and nature, and provides data
on specific emission limits imposed on existing, new or modified sources across the country.
The RBLC serves as a reference or starting point for State and local agencies when making
Reasonable Available Control Technology (RACT), Best Available Control Technology (BACT),
or Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate (LAER) determinations. The RBLC allows for rapid
updating of RACT/BACT/LAER determinations, rapid production of clearinghouse reports, and
allows Regional offices and State and local agency representatives to have a more direct
computer access to data. The RBLC data base is a PC-based system with menu-driven and
advanced search capabilities. The information in the clearinghouse contains downloadable
information. Additional information can be obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Control Technology Center, Emission Standards Division, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, (919) 541-5432.
2.2 Data Base Profiles
The following pages provide the data base profiles developed through the screening process.
17
-------
304(L)
A»t.£w£.W" S~««*WWV» ?&CUvM
-------
304(L)
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Solvability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
Data collection methods use standardized formats but are
not included in the data base, and may require further
inquiry through the applicable state. The number of
various data collection methodologies varies by state
depending on each states requirements. The data
represent current technology. The data are measured and
reported in single values.
The data base was established in 1989 and was updated
quarterly until 1991. Since 1991, updates began to occur
periodically.
The data can be sorted by state, facility location, city, and
waterbody
The data base is independently audited for data quality.
85% of all data fields are complete and represent current
technology.
The data are available to the public; however, some
sanitized facility-specific data may be available.
304(1) is menu-driven.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 686 records
Approximately 10 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sorted by the
user.
None
None
Biological
Compliance
Discharge points
Environmental releases
Monitoring
Point source
Monitoring
Geographic coordinates
Site characteristics
Surface water
19
-------
AIRS
'.A '.
System Name: Aerometric Information Retrieval System
Acronym: AIRS
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
National Air Data Branch
Mail Drop 13
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Virginia Ambrose
(919) 541-5454
FAX (919) 541-5663
Tom Link (Non-EPA contact)
(919) 541-5456
Chuck Isbell (EPA contact)
(919) 541-5448
AIRS stores air quality, point source emissions, and
area/mobile source data required by Federal regulations
from the 50 states. Monitoring is required for the criteria
pollutants based on population, pollutant sources,
geographical area, etc. Point sources emitting more than
100 tons per year of any criteria pollutant (except 5 tons
per year for lead and 1,000 tons per year for CO) must
report actual or estimated annual emissions data.
AIRS is comprised of three subsystems; The Air Quality
Subsystem (AQS) which has data on ambient air quality;
The AIRS Facility Subsystem (AFS), which is used to
track emissions and compliance data from industrial
plants; and the Geo-Common Subsystem (GCS) which
stores reference information for all AIRS subsystems. A
fourth subsystem, the AIRS Area/Mobile Source
Subsystem (AMS) is presently under development and will
eventually contain estimates of area-wide emissions from
mobile sources, forest fires, fugitive transport, and other
area-wide emissions sources.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
20
-------
AIRS
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Manufacture, use/reuse/maintenance, recycle/waste
management, ambient air background chemical
concentration
This data base contains emissions data specific to CO,
NO2, O3, Pb, SO2, particulates (PM10), ozone, and
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). The data base
contains source emissions and compliance information,
area source emissions information, and reference
information that are used with air quality and facility data.
The combination of this type of data would be useful in
conducting LCAs, but are limited to emission output data.
The quality assurance procedures for data collection and
data entry ensure the data are accurate. Information on
the types of air monitors used is also available.
Industry-required reporting and other government
agencies including state agencies
The data are facility-specific and point source
Regulations and standards, environmental compliance,
and trend monitoring
Air
Data are collected through the state and Local Air
Monitoring System (SLAMS) and the National, Air
Monitoring System (NAMS)
The data collection methodology is included in the data
base, but may require further inquiry through the
applicable state. The number of various data collection
methodologies varies by state depending on each states'
requirements. The data represent current technology.
The data are measured and reported as single values.
Averages of time-scale measurements are also included.
The data base is an upgrade of several data bases going
back to 1957. Only the last 5 years of data are currently
on the system, but older data can be requested and
loaded back into the system. The data base is updated
daily.
21
-------
AIRS
E J.L .
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
The data can be sorted by state, facility location,
latitude/longitude, county, etc.
The data base is independently audited for data quality.
All of the data are run through the Precision and Accuracy
Reporting System (PARS) before being loaded into AIRS.
Summaries of the precision and accuracy of data from
groups of monitors are also available.
Only select data categories are available to the public.
Users are profiled and determinations are made as to the
data the user will be permitted to access. Only certain
users, determined by the system manager, may access
confidential air pollution data. Non-EPA users can request
AIRS data through the FOIA process from the National Air
Data Branch (NADB) staff.
AIRS is menu-driven and is accessible with a dial-up
modem
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
with the modem, but can be used on various data
networks or mainframes.
Over 200,000 records
Approximately 7,000 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sorted by the
user.
This system-uses the SLAMS and NAMS data systems for
its data.
The system can be accessed through the National
Computer Center in Research Triangle Park, NC and from
the RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse (RBLC).
Key Words:
Chemical
Discharge points
Environmental compliance
Environmental releases
Geographic codes
Geographic coordinates
Manufacturing
22
-------
AQUIRE
System Name: Aquatic Toxicity Information Retrieval
Acronym: AQUIRE
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
U.S. EPA
Office of Research and Development
Office of Environmental Processes and Effects Research
Environmental Research Laboratory
6201 Congdon Boulevard
Duluth, Ml 55804
Robert Spehar
(218) 720-5564
Chris Russom
(218) 720-5709
AQUIRE was established in 1981 and is updated and
maintained by EPA-Duluth. Aquire provides quick access
to a comprehensive, systematic, computerized compilation
of aquatic toxic effects data. AQUIRE contains
information on the toxicity of chemicals (except oils) to
over 2,400 species of fresh and saltwater organisms (not
including bacteria, birds, and aquatic mammals). Acute,
chronic, bioaccumulation, and sublethal effects are
included. Published papers and final reports are reviewed
and information on test conditions and results are entered
into the data base. Data items included are chemical
substance information, test organism details, study
protocol, and test results. As of August 1992, AQUIRE
consists of over 99,710 individual test results from 5,500
chemicals and 2,361 organisms, extracted from 6,650
publications. All AQUIRE data entries have been
subjected to established QA procedures.
Plans have been made by EPA-Duluth, EPA-Corvallis, the
Office of Technology Transfer and Regulatory Support,
Office of Water, and Office of Solid Waste and Superfund
to combine three data bases (PHYTOTOX, TERRE-TOX,
and AQUIRE) into a single data base called ECOTOX. A
discussion of ECOTOX is included in the section titled
"On-going Studies."
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
23
-------
AQUIRE
?* v
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Biological effects and toxicological effects, chemical
properties related to environmental fate or effects,
chemical modeling related to environmental fate or effects
This data system is useful for impact assessment only and
the data are especially useful in evaluating the effects of
chemicals on aquatic systems.
Data on toxic effects are primarily from journal articles and
other published documents.
The data are chemical-specific
Compile aquatic toxicity data on chemicals for research
and setting of regulations and standards.
Water
Reviewed published journals, and other literature sources.
The references describe the data collection methodology
and the test conditions are stated in the data base.
The data base is updated quarterly and represents current
technology. The data have been collected since 1972.
Most of the data are laboratory values that are not specific
to any geographic area.
The data are from peer-reviewed journal articles.
All of the data are available to the public.
The data are menu-driven and accessible through a dial-
up modem from several private vendors (e.g., CIS), but
not directly available to the general public from EPA.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC
equipment, and network
Over 99,710 records
24
-------
AQUIRE
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Approximately 5,500 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable by
request.
AQUIRE is combined with QSAR as the ASTER data
base, but ASTER can only be accessed by government
employees.
CIS on-line, NTIS (VAX, VMS data tapes), Spectrum
Research, Co., Inc, (ASCII and microcomputer files), AScI
Corporation (microcomputer format), and Daylight
Chemical Information Systems, Inc. (VAX, VMS, and
UNIX-based software for on-site use).
Key Words:
Aquatic toxicity
Biological effects
Chemical
Environmental effects
Population, human
Toxic effects
25
-------
ARIP
System Name:
Accidental Release Information Program
Acronym: ARIP
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U. S. EPA
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office
Chemical Accident Prevention Branch
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Vanessa Rodriguez
(202) 260-7913
This program is a non-regulatory approach to foster
improvements in overall chemical process safety.
Information collected through ARIP is used to establish a
national data base and clearinghouse about causes of
accidental chemical releases and ways to prevent them
from recurring. This data base is used to study and
develop program initiatives, to focus attention on releases,
and to foster the use of accidental release prevention
activities and technologies. Data analyses findings are
disseminated and shared among all those with
responsibility to prevent accidental releases.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
Manufacture, biological effects and toxicological effects
This data base is more useful for conducting the impact
assessment portion. It provides data on accident
frequency and magnitude for several industries. It also
contains some limited environmental release and accident
information which may be useful for inventory analysis.
Data are provided by industries on questionnaires.
The data are industry-specific.
Trend monitoring, accident prevention promotion
Air, water
26
-------
ARIP
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
Questionnaires are provided to industries to document
their accident prevention programs and accident reports.
The data collection methodologies are available for review
within the system. There are a several data collection
methodologies used for data collection. About 85 to 90%
of the data fields are complete.
The data have been collected since 1988, are updated
monthly, and represent current technology.
The data can be sorted by state or zip code.
The data are not independently audited for data quality,
however, the data are traceable. Data accuracy depends
on how well the industries are tracking their accident
information.
All of the data are available to the public.
The data base is menu-driven and uses the dBase
computer language.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Over 4,000 records
Approximately 22 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields are sortable.
Emergency Response Notification System
None
CERCLA/SARA support
Chemical hazards
Compliance
Environmental releases
Exposure
Health effects
Monitoring
Program planning
Toxicological effects
27
-------
ASHDISPOS
I m " ft Ti
System Name: Municipal Waste Combustion-Ash Disposal Acronym:
Facilities Data Base ASHDISPOS
Lead Organization Name:
as. EPA
Office of Research and Development/
Florida State University
Environmental Monitoring and Wet Environments
Research Program, Center for Biomedical and
Toxicological Research and Hazardous Waste
Management
CBTR/R-51
Tallahassee, Florida, 32306
Victor Lambou
(904) 644-5516
This data base contains the results of a survey of
municipal-waste-combustion-ash (MWCA) disposal
facilities and documents the characteristics of 109 MWCA
facilities and the waste disposal practices used. The data
base also contains limited monitoring data from some
facilities.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
Recycle/waste management, background or ambient
chemical concentration data
This data base contains information that involves disposal
practices for MWCA facilities. The information in the data
base is useful for industry level LCAs and is confined to a
limited portion of a LCA.
Municipal-Waste-Combustion-Ash Disposal Facilities
The data are facility-specific to the MWCA facilities.
Trend assessment, regulations/standards,
Water, land, solid waste
28
-------
ASHDISPOS
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Survey of MCWA disposal facilities
The data collection methodology is not available for review
within the data base. There are many data collection
methods used by each facility.
The data were collected in 1989 and are not updated.
The data base can be sorted by state or facility.
The data set has been independently audited; the data
were collected from nearly 100% of the facilities and are
believed to be accurate.
All of the data are available to the public.
The data base is menu-driven but can be used as a
command-driven system in the dBase format.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Over 10,000 records
Approximately 95 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields are sortable.
None
None
Key Words:
CERCLA/SARA support
Groundwater
Landfills
RCRA/HWSA support
Treatment/disposal
29
-------
gnswi -*—*
ELI
BLIS
System Name:
Best Available Control Technology/Lowest Acronym: BLIS
Achievable Emission Rate Information
System
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Mail Drop 13
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Bob Blaszczak
(919) 541-5432
(FAX) (919) 541-0072
System operator (919) 541-5384
The BUS data base contains selected parameters
including Reasonable Available Control Technology
(RACT), in summary form, from new source permits. The
parameters consist of both types and actual amounts of
pollutants emitted, control technology and efficiencies, and
location of people making the determination. As states
submit new determinations, they will be entered onto the
BLIS system as well.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Air emissions from manufacture, use/reuse/maintenance,
recycle/waste management
The information in the data base may be useful to
determine limits for new manufacturing sources. The
emissions permit level may vary due to the location and
the ambient pollution present compared to EPA limits for
all industries in that area. The data base is available
through the Bulletin Board of the Technical Transfer
Network.
The data are obtained from other government agencies,
mainly individual states.
The data are facility-specific.
30
-------
BUS
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
The data are collected for technology development and
environmental compliance permitting.
Air
Data are submitted by individual states using the
application submitted by permit applicants.
The data collection methodology is not available for
review, however, the questionnaire used to obtain the data
is publicly available. The number of methods used to
collect the data varies by state requirements.
The data base is currently updated monthly, but there is a
several month backlog of data.
The data can be sorted by state.
There is no independent audit for data quality. The states
are responsible for verifying the quality of the data used in
the permit applications.
All of the data are available to the public.
The data base is menu-driven and accessible with a dial-
up modem.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 2,500 records
Approximately 50 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable.
None
The data base may be accessed through the bulletin
board feature of the Technology Transfer Network from
the RBLC Clearinghouse.
31
-------
BUS
Key Words:
emissions
Chemical use
Environmental releases
Exposure
Discharge points
Geographic codes
Manufacturing
Point source
32
-------
BRS
es**s V "^ °SjP ""
System Name: Biennial Reporting System
Acronym: BRS
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Solid Waste
Communications, Analysis, and Budget Division
Information Management Branch
401 M street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
John Fogarty
(202) 260-7922
FAX (202) 260-0284
Biennial reports are submitted by the RCRA regulated
community on hazardous waste generated, transported,
treated, etc. Data are from over 18,000 RCRA hazardous
waste sites with the majority from generators. The system
also includes waste minimization practices from
generators in 37 states. The data are collected from sites
that generate 1,000 kg or more of RCRA hazardous
waste in any single month, generate 1,000 kg of RCRA
acute hazardous waste in a single month or accumulate in
any given time, or any site that generates or accumulates
at any time more than 100 kg of spill cleanup material
contaminated with RCRA acute hazardous waste.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
Raw material extraction including imported, manufacture,
use/reuse/maintenance, recycle/waste management
This data system is useful for LCAs that involve
products/processes that produce RCRA hazardous
wastes. RCRA wastes managed only in units exempt
from RCRA permitting requirements were not consistently
collected (More accurate information on these types of
facilities are in the National Survey of Hazardous Waste
Generators and TSDR Facilities). States used at least
three different sets of codes to describe the methods used
to treat, store, dispose, or recycle RCRA hazardous
wastes. Most states, however, collected the data on
individual waste streams at each site, but several states
reported only summary format data. Waste is only
33
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BRS
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
reported as a final disposition, there are no storage data.
Some states did not include RCRA hazardous
wastewaters, because of confusion of the correct
interpretation relating to wastewaters. Variations in state
requirements also led to conservative estimates of the
number of generators.
The data are collected from the states, which in turn
collect the data from the qualifying RCRA hazardous
waste generating and TSD facilities.
The data are facility-specific.
Program evaluation and analysis, trend monitoring
Air, water, land, solid waste
The data are collected by the states and reported to EPA
The collection methodology is available for review but the
methods vary from state to state. The data represent
current technology.
The data have been collected since 1981 and are updated
biennially.
The data can be sorted geographically by state and sites.
A systematic quality assurance process is conducted to
evaluate state submissions. The data are checked for
completeness and internal consistency. The data also
underwent evaluation for the largest sites or the top five
sites in each state using historical comparison of
consistency in the types and quantities of wastes
generated and managed and the management methods.
Aggregated data are available in summary reports at site
and waste stream levels. Other data may be available
upon request.
34
-------
BBS
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
The data base is menu-driven and available with a dial-up
modem.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
and available through a network.
Over 20,000 records
Over 200 fields
o
The data fields and the data within the fields are sortable
by the user.
HWDMS/FtCRIS
None
Treatment/disposal
Environmental releases
Manufacturing
Point source
Production volume
Transportation
35
-------
r.
CAIR
System Name:
Comprehensive Assessment Information
Rule Data Base
Acronym: CAIR
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
as. EPA
Office of Toxic Substances
Information Management Division
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Joanne Martin
(202) 260-0431
CAIR is intended to reduce or eliminate duplicative
industry reporting to EPA. The CAIR data system
contains data from the reporting form in 10 physical data
files, one file for each reporting section. The data include
information on plant site, chemical identification,
production processing, production volume, importation
volume, physical/chemical properties, environmental fate
data, financial information, manufacturing and processing
information, waste generation and management, worker
exposure, and environmental releases.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
Raw material extraction, manufacture, biological effects
and toxicological effects, chemical properties related to
environmental fate or effects, chemical modeling related to
environmental fate or effects
This data system contains very useful information to
conduct LCAs, but much of the information is confidential
business information. There are two sets of data
available, one is unsanitized and the other is sanitized for
public use. However, due to the large number of
confidential business information claims, it can take
months to obtain sanitized output, thus rendering sanitized
data much less usefull. The data are not currently
independently audited, and steps are in place to make the
next update more standardized. Conversions may be
needed to determine the accuracy of the data.
36
-------
CAIR
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
The data are from industry and manufactures that are
required to report their data under 40 CFR Part 704.
The data are process-specific, industry-specific, and
facility-specific.
The data are collected for risk assessment, compliance,
enforcement, and analysis purposes.
Air, water, land, solid waste
Data are obtained using a variety of standard methods
and estimates and other calculations are provided in the
reporting form instructions.
Data collection methods are not provided in the data base.
The data base is currently being updated and new data
are being entered. The data represent current technology
and have only been collected for the past two years.
The data can be sorted geographically by state, county,
facility, and latitude/longitude.
The data are not currently independently audited, and
steps are in place to make the next update more
standardized. Conversions may be needed to determine
the accuracy of the data.
The data are available to the public. There are two
versions of data, one is the unsanitized data that contains
confidential business information. Selected categories of
this data are available publicly by special request. The
second version is the sanitized version which contains no
confidential business information and is available by
request.
The system is command-driven and is used in a stand-
alone system.
Mainframe
37
-------
CAIR
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Solvability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
V*
Approximately 1,000 records
Approximately 1,500 fields
The data are sortable by special request.
None
None
Chemical properties
Chemical use
Economic
Environmental effects
Environmental releases
Exposure
Physical properties
Risk assessment
Soils
38
-------
CCRIS
System Name:
Chemical Carcinogenesis Research
Information System
Acronym: CCRIS
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
CCRIS Representative
Specialized Information Services
National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
Phillip Wexler
(301) 496-6531
CCRIS is a scientifically evaluated and fully referenced
data bank, developed and maintained by the National
Cancer Institute (NCI), containing carcinogenicity,
mutagenicity, tumor promotion, and tumor inhibition test
results. Data are derived from studies located via the
scanning of primary journals, current awareness tools, and
a special core set of sources including a wide range of
NCI reports. Each record is based on one chemical and
may include data from more than one study. The data
fields within each chemical record are arranged by
substance identification/use and
carcinogenicity/mutagenicity.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Biological and toxicological effects
This data base provides useful information for impact
assessment including carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, tumor
promotion, and tumor inhibition data.
Data are derived from studies located via the scanning of
primary journals, current awareness tools, and a special
core set of sources including a wide range of NCI reports.
The data are chemical-specific.
39
-------
CCRIS
*,.j«t». , t,.*f
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
The data are provided to make the information more
easily accessible to the public.
Air, water, land
The data are obtained from studies using widely accepted
scientific protocols.
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the data base though bibliographic references. The
number of data collection methods vary among the
studies. Most of the data are single value measurements.
The data are updated approximately monthly.
The data base cannot be sorted geographically.
The data are peer-reviewed in the literature, and after the
studies are completed by the study sponsor. Information
on the data quality is available in the original literature.
Approximately 50% of the data fields are complete.
All of the data are available to the public.
The system is menu-driven and available through a dial-
up modem.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC
equipment.
Approximately 4,300 chemical-specific records
Approximately 55 fields
The data fields can be sorted by the user; however, the
data within the fields may not be sortable.
None
CIS, COMPUSERVE, TOXNET,
40
-------
CCRIS
Biological
Carcinogenicity
Chemical use
Exposure
Health effects
Mutagenicity
41
-------
CESARS
System Name:
Lead Organization Name:
Chemical Evaluation Search and Retrieval
System
Acronym: CESARS
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
Michigan State Department of Natural Resources
Surface Water Quality Division
Great Lakes and Environmental Assessment Section
Knapp's Office Center
P.O. Box 30028
Lansing, Ml 48909
Bob Sills
(517) 335-3308
The Chemical Evaluation Search and Retrieval System
provides detailed information and evaluations on a group
of chemicals of importance in the Great Lakes Basin.
CESARS contains information on toxicity, physical and
chemical properties, carcinogen/city, environmental fate,
and domestic production with references to the original
source of the data.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment, and to a limited extent, inventory
analysis
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
Biological and toxicological effects, chemical properties
related to environmental fate effects, and manufacture.
This data base provides useful information for impact
assessment and inventory analysis associated with
chemicals of particular importance in the Great Lakes
Basin of the U.S.
Data are derived from a collection of studies in the Great
Lakes Basin
The data are chemical-specific.
The data are provided to make the information more
easily accessible to the public.
Air, water
42
-------
CESARS
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Solvability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
The data are obtained from literature sources.
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the data base, but the number of methods used for
each data point varies from source to source. Most of the
data are single value measurements.
The data are updated on an irregular basis and were last
updated in 1992.
The data base is geographically specific to the Great
Lakes Basin.
The data are peer-reviewed in the literature, but not by the
data base operator. Information on the data quality is
available in the original literature.
All of the data are available to the public.
The system is menu-driven.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 194 chemical-specific records
Approximately 185 fields
The data fields can be sorted by the user; however, the
data within the fields may not be sortable.
None
CIS, NTIS, CCINFO
Biological
Chemical properties
Chemical use
Environmental effects
Exposure
Health effects
Physical properties
43
-------
CHEM-INTELL
System Name:
Chemical Intelligence Services
Acronym: CHEM-
INTELL
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
Chemical Intelligence Services,
Windsor Court
East Grinstead House
East Grinstead
West Suffix RH 1 1XA
England
Julie Chatterjee
44-34-233-5885
Chem-lntell provides information on manufacturing plants,
as well as trade and production figures for over 100
organic and inorganic chemicals. It includes information
on manufacturer capacities, processes, feedstocks,
quantities and value of import/export chemicals, as well as
press releases, company reports, market and industrial
surveys.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
Raw material acquisition, manufacture
Output information for the manufacture stage is restricted
to production quantities and does not include information
on emissions.
Chemical manufacturers, government agencies
The data are chemical-specific, product-specific, process-
specific.
To provide information to industrial clients for marketing or
trend monitoring purpose.
Not applicable
44
-------
CHEM-INTELL
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Solvability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Data are collected from direct correspondence with
producers, plant contractors licensors, company reports,
press releases, market and industry surveys and a
comprehensive range of publications. Information is also
obtained directly by customs authorities, international
statistical office publications, trade associations, and
selected periodicals and reports.
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the data base, but the number of methods used for
each data point varies from source to source.
The data are updated monthly. Trade information is
available from 1973 and production data are available
from 1981.
The data base is geographically specific by country.
The data are audited for accuracy by the collectors
depending on the data source. The parent company is
contacted to verify precision of the data to be included in
the data base. The data fields are approximately 75%
complete.
All of the data are publicly available.
The system is command-driven on a dial-up modem
Mainframe
Approximately 40,000 records
Approximately 25 fields
The data fields are sortable by special request and the
data within the fields can be sorted by the user.
None
DIALOG, DataStar
45
-------
CHEM-INTELL
Key Words:
Chemical properties
Chemical use
Economic
Geographic codes
Manufacturing
Physical properties
Processing
Production volume
46
-------
cus
System Name: Chemical Update System
Acronym: CUS
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Toxic Substances
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Joanne Martin
(202) 260-0431
The Chemical Update System contains confidential data
reported by industry as a partial update of the TSCA
Inventory. Manufacturers and importers are required to
report company information (plant site name, address,
DUNS number) and chemical information (CAS number,
PMN/Bonafide/TMEA or CCID Assession Number, and
production volume) for chemicals that are manufactured or
imported in excess of 10,000 pounds in the immediately
preceding fiscal year. Polymers, naturally occurring
substances, and UVCB's are exempt from reporting
requirements. Reporting takes place every four years.
Production volumes on the CUS Data base are discrete
amounts, rather than ranges found on CICIS.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component:
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Inventory analysis
Raw material acquisition, manufacture,,
This data base is chemical specific for amounts
manufactured or imported in excess of 10,000 pounds.
However only select data categories are available to the
public.
Chemical industries
The data are chemical-specific.
The data are used for regulatory purposes.
47
-------
IT '
Silwwh* j»* *j, Jim. -wiiu.il
cus
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Air, water, land, solid waste
Collected from chemical industries by required reporting
forms.
The data collection is based on estimates provided by the
reporting entity, but the estimation method is not specified.
The data are updated every four years. Data from 1990
are currently available.
The data base is geographically specific through sorting
by city or zip code.
The data are independently audited for accuracy prior to
data entry.
35% of the data fields involving production are removed to
retain confidentiality and 20% of the plant site
identifications are also removed. Only select data
categories are available to the public.
The system is menu-driven on a stand-alone system.
Sanitized data are more readily obtained by special
request
Mainframe
Approximately 8,000 to 9,000 chemical records
Approximately 35 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields can be
sorted by the user.
None
A sanitized version will be available from RTF (Research
Triangle Park) in the near future.
48
-------
cus
Key Words:
Chemical properties
Chemical use
Geographic codes
Manufacturing
Physical properties
Processing
Production properties
49
-------
c:
"DSOSS"
System Name:
Lead Organization Name:
Data Base and Systems for Optimal Solvent Acronym: "DSOSS"
Selection
Emission Reduction Research Center
New Jersey Institute of Technology
138 Warren Street
Newark NJ 07102
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Professor T. Gund
(201) 596-3669
"DSOSS" is a comprehensive data base that is under
development for about 50 solvents. The data include
structures, and physical properties, such as melting point,
boiling point, vapor pressure, molecular weight, solubility,
etc. Safety and regulatory data including flammability,
toxicity, explosive limit, etc. have also been included, as
well as handling data, environmental effects, and health
data related to humans. The information was compiled
from the published literature, from sources available within
ERRC member companies, or by computing or
extrapolating solvent properties from known
thermodynamic data. Data fields will be defined to
properly handle such variables. The data base sources
include compilations and on-line systems such as STN,
Chemical Handbooks, Solvent Guides, and other software
programs and books. The STN software on-line system
has data bases to search physical, chemical, and toxic
properties of solvents.
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
Biological effects and toxicological effects, chemical
properties related to fate and effects
This data base is anticipated to become available to the
public late in 1993. The data base may be useful for
LCAs that involve solvent use, or disposal.
50
-------
"DSOSS"
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
STN, Chemical Handbooks, Solvent Guides, and other
software programs and books.
The data are product-specific (solvents).
Under development for optimum solvent selection in
industry applications and for access by information
management systems being developed jointly at MIT and
NJIT.
Water, land, solid waste, solvent properties
Collected from handbooks, literature, on-line systems
The data collection methodologies are not available for
review in the data base. The number of methods used
varies for each source in the data base.
This data base is under development but will be updated
semi-annually upon completion.
The data may not be sorted geographically.
The data will be independently audited for accuracy. The
data sources are peer-reviewed. The data fields will be
100% complete when the data base becomes publicly
available.
All of the data will be publicly available in mid-1994.
The system will be menu-driven.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC
equipment, and will provide information that can be used
with a variety of commercial data base programs (dBase,
etc.)
Approximately 50 records
Approximately 20 to 30 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields can be
51
-------
"DSOSS"
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
sorted depending on the particular users data base
program.
None
None
Biological
Environmental effects
Health effects
Physical/chemical properties
52
-------
System Name:
EDB
Environmental Data Base
Acronym: EDB
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
Stockholm Environment Institute
Tellus Institute - Boston Center
11 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116
Michael Lazarus
(617) 266-8090
EDB is an interactive data base of environmental
emissions and direct impacts (e.g. emission quantities)
resulting from energy production and consumption
activities. EDB is a stand-alone data base, but can also
be incorporated into an energy planning system (LEAP),
enabling users of the combined software to link
environmental data with energy scenarios to generate
accounts and projections of emissions. EDB contains
data gathered from an extensive review of literature and
from other sources of compiled emission data.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis
Specific LCA Category: Raw material acquisition, use/reuse/maintenance
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
This data base contains information on the emissions
resulting from energy extraction processes (e.g., coal
mining) and emissions of household devices (e.g., stoves,
oil furnaces, etc.) The data may be useful for estimating
emissions associated with energy production or
consumption.
Peer-reviewed literature, results of several U.S. EPA
studies, and other data compilations.
The data on energy production or consumption are
process-specific.
53
-------
EDB
tl
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
To better incorporate environmental concerns into
planning methods.
Air, water, land, solid waste
Collected from peer-reviewed literature
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in EDB and also the data source and conversions. EDB
also includes the calculation methods.
The data files are continuously updated. The latest data
is 1993.
EDB data can not be sorted geographically.
The data are from open literature, most of which are peer-
reviewed. Some of the data are from other sources that
have undergone quality assurance reviews.
Approximately 25% of the data fields are complete.
All of the data are publicly available.
The system is menu-driven on a stand-alone system and
must be purchased.
IBM-compatible PC
Approximately 2,000 records.
Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 data fields (e.g., pointers
and coefficients).
The data fields and the data within the fields can be
sorted by the user. However, some of the data may need
to be sorted manually to obtain certain details.
EDB is self-contained however it can be incorporated into
the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System
(LEAP) for the prediction of emissions from energy
scenarios.
None
54
-------
EDB
r
Key Words:
Energy demand
Environmental releases
Health/Safety impacts
Point source
Processing
55
-------
EFDB
System Name: Environmental Fate Data Bases
Acronym: EFDB
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
U.S. EPA
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Economics, Exposure, and Technology Division
401 M Street, SW, TS779
Washington, DC 20460
Bob Boething (EPA)
(202) 260-3910
Phil Howard (Syracuse Research Corporation)
(315) 426-3350
EFDB consists of four major files with appropriate
references, and each of them are available separately.
The DATALOG contains about 200,000 records on about
13,000 chemicals. This file indicates where environmental
fate and exposure data can be found using 18 different
indexing terms (e.g., water solubility, Henry's Law
constant, hydrolysis, and ambient monitoring).
CHEMFATE contains actual physical property values, rate
constants, and monitoring concentrations for
approximately 1,700 commercially significant chemicals,
including SARA Section 313 TRI Chemicals. BIOLOG,
which contains about 44,000 records, indicates sources of
microbial toxicity and biodegradation data on
approximately 6,500 chemicals. Indexing and searching is
allowed on toxicity or biodegradation data; aerobic or
anaerobic conditions; pure enzyme, cell free extract, pure
culture or mixed culture; source of microorganisms; and
whether the metabolism pathway has been studied.
BIODEG contains actual experimental results on
biodegradation studies for approximately 700 chemicals.
Experimental details, such as chemical concentration and
rate of degradation, are included.
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
56
-------
EFDB
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
Biological effects and toxicological effects, chemical
properties related to environmental fate and effects,
chemical modeling related to environmental fate and
effects
This data base is comprehensive in its scope and contains
useful data for LCAs. The data base will be extremely
valuable for determining the environmental fate of
chemicals, which is typically the second step of an impact
assessment. CIS purchased the CHEMFATE file which is
included in their clearinghouse. Syracuse Research
.Corporation (EFDB developer) handles public access to all
of the EFDB files.
Peer-reviewed literature
The data are chemical-specific.
Environmental assessment under TSCA for risk
assessment
Air, water, land, solid waste
Collected from peer-reviewed literature
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the CHEMFATE and BIODEG files but are not available
for the others. Data collection methodology varies among
the files.
The data files are updated periodically and the references
are updated constantly.
CHEMFATE file monitoring data can be sorted
geographically and some of the BIODEG file data can be
sorted geographically.
The data are from open literature, most of which are peer-
reviewed. The data fields are more than 50% complete.
All of the data are publicly available.
57
-------
EFDB
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Solvability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
The system is menu-driven on a dial-up modem system or
purchased as diskettes.
IBM-compatible PC, Mainframe, VAX
Varies with each file
Varies with each file
The data fields and the data within the fields can be
sorted by the user.
None
CIS (CHEMFATE only)
Biodegradation
Environmental fate
Environmental transformation rates
Physical/chemical properties
58
-------
EFG
System Name: Effluent Guidelines Studies
Acronym: EFG
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology
Engineering and Analysis Division
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Eric Strassler
(202) 260-7120
EFG studies are a collection of information obtained by
OST on an industry-by-industry basis to support the
development of technology-based effluent guidelines. The
guidelines are designed to control discharges into
waterways as a result of industrial processes.
Regulations are set forth for both direct and indirect
dischargers based on a determination of which pollutants
can be removed through current technology. Information
includes engineering and economic information of
individual plants, supplemented by sampling and analysis
of wastewater discharge points and secondary
engineering and economic information.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Raw material extraction, manufacture, background or
ambient chemical concentration data.
This data base is comprehensive in its scope and contains
useful data for LCAs. Data are currently, or have been,
collected on 62 industry groups. However, finished
studies for which regulations have been published are not
being updated. The data are collected by surveys of
industries and/or actual effluent analysis.
EPA-requested survey of industries and occasionally
actual effluent analysis.
The data are facility-specific.
59
-------
EFG
gS;f*5:::::*
*-«.••« ......
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Develop technology-based regulations.
Water
Collected from various industrial sources
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the data base, but the number of methods used varies
for each study in the data base.
Only 12 current studies are being updated. Once a
regulation has been published, the data base is not
updated. Some of the projects and technology in the data
base may have been superseded by later regulations and
methods.
The data cannot be sorted geographically.
The data are independently audited for traceability and
representativeness. Quality control procedures for
chemical testing are also required. 75% of the data fields
are complete.
Most of the data are publicly available, but some is CBI
and may only be available in aggregated form.
The system is command-driven on a stand-alone system.
Data are only obtained by request.
Mainframe
Varies with each study
Varies with each study
The data fields and the data within the fields can be
sorted by special request.
None
None
60
-------
EFG
Key Words:
Compliance
Discharge points
Environmental releases
Manufacturing
Monitoring
Point source
Treatment
61
-------
"GTOM/YR"
f
^ ,
X ~
lf
System Name:
U.S. Gas Turbine O&M Data Base
Acronym: "GTOM/YR"
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
Utility Data Institute
1700 K Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006
Kathy Brown
1-(800) 486-3660
(202) 942-8789
FAX
UDI (202) 942-8788
The GTOM/YR data base contains data from the gas
turbine production cost reports from over 450 gas turbine
power plants. The data includes operator and plant name,
plant year-in-service, installed capacity, annual net
generation, total fuel expenses, total non-fuel O&M
expenses, number of employees, plant heat rate, total
production costs, and current plant capitalization.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Raw material acquisition, manufacture,,
This data base contains useful data for inventory analysis
involving energy usage and production costs for utilities
and gas turbine power plants of industry.
Data are obtained from FERC Form 1, EIA Form 412, and
REA Form 12.
The data are process-specific.
Trend and market assessment
Energy
Collected from various gas turbine power plants required
to complete regulatory forms such as FERC Form 1, EIA
Form 412, and REA Form 12. The information is obtained
from these documents
62
-------
"GTOM/YR"
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
The data collection methodologies are not available for
review in the data base. There may be more than one
data collection methodology used by power plants.
The data are updated annually.
The data can sorted geographically.
All data are checked for accuracy during data entry. Data
submittal is required by law. QA procedures are applied
to the data at the time it is collected for submittal to the
appropriate government agency. All of the data are
reported values which may be estimated or single valued
depending on the data field.
All of the data are available by request.
The system is command-driven and only available on
diskette.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 450 records
Approximately 66 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields can be
sorted within the capabilities of dBase or Lotus formats.
U.S. Gas Turbine & Combined-Cycle Power Plants
UDI
Economic
Geographic codes
Manufacturing
Processing
Production volume
63
-------
HSDB
System Name: Hazardous Substance Data Bank
Acronym: HSDB
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
National Library of Medicine
Specialized Information Services
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
Philip Wexler
(301) 496-6531
(301)496-1131 |
HSDB is a factual, non-bibliographic data bank focusing
upon the toxicology of potentially hazardous chemicals. It
is enhanced with data from such related areas as
emergency handling procedures, manufacturing use
information (e.g. U.S. production), pharmacology,
monitoring and analysis records, environmental fate,
human exposure, detection methods, and regulatory
requirements. Data are derived from a core set of
standard texts and monographs, government documents,
technical reports, and primary journals. HSDB contains
complete references for all data sources utilized. HSDB is
peer reviewed by the Scientific Review Panel, a
committee of experts drawn from the major subject
•disciplines within the data bank's scope. HSDB is
organized by chemical record with, nearly 4,200 chemical
substance records contained in the file.
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category: Manufacture, biological effects and toxicological effects,
chemical properties related to environmental fate or
effects, background or ambient chemical concentration
data
Comments:
This data base contains useful data for inventory analysis
and impact assessment. The data base goes through
extensive QA and contains a substantial amount of
information on topics directly related to LCAs.
64
-------
HSDB
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Standard texts and monographs, government documents,
technical reports, and primary journals.
The data are generic.
Provides a central source of toxicological data.
Air, water, land, solid waste
Collected from various reports, literature, and references.
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the data base through the references.
The data are updated monthly.
The data are not geographically specific.
Most of the data are reviewed by work groups of
scientists. However, a limited number of data statements
provided by industry submissions are not reviewed,
because they do not readily lend themselves to scientific
review. All of the data can be traced to the original
published article by references included in the data base.
Each data statement has a "review tag" which displays the
level of quality review. The data represent single value
points.
All of the data are publicly available.
The system is menu-driven on a dial-up modem system.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 4,200 records
Approximately 150 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields can be
sorted by user.
None
65
-------
tea.
Other Access:
Key Words:
HSDB
T"p*r^3Pv 'TTTT "T r^ffljr'^ffi'iB^L^^iKW.S'S
„::„:; :„:,„,:, .:?.,„. •„,„ „„„;', ,s, i,aj>,,i; j,,urj..EL:,rS
TOXNET
Emergency handling
procedures
Manufacturing use
Pharmacology
Monitoring/analysis
Environmental fate
Human exposure
Detection methods
Regulatory requirements
66
-------
IRIS
System Name:
Integrated Risk Information System
Acronym: IRIS
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
U.S. EPA
Office of Research and Development
Office of Health and Environmental Assessment
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Linda Tuxen
(202) 260-5949
Phillip Wexler
(301) 496-6531
The IRIS data base contains summary information related
to human health risk assessment. IRIS is the EPA's
primary vehicle for communication of chronic health
hazard information representing EPA consensus positions
following comprehensive review by infra-agency reviews.
IRIS is a useful tool for pointing the user to underlying
human and/or animal data used to support EPA's opinion.
The core of the system is a collection of files that contain
hazard identification and dose-response risk information
for approximately 643 chemicals. The data are broken
into several categories: substance identification/use;
Chemical and physical properties; noncarcinogenic
assessment -lifetime exposure; carcinogenicity
assessment - lifetime exposure; drinking water health
advisories/acute toxicity; aquatic toxicity assessment;
exposure standards and regulations; and references.
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
Biological effects and toxicological effects, chemical
properties related to environmental fate or effects,
chemical modeling related to environmental fate or effects
This data base contains much useful data for impact
assessment of human health risk; however, it contains
information on only 643 chemicals (1993). All of the data
are reviewed by work groups of scientists and represent a
consensus of all members.
67
-------
IRIS
iiti i
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Government agencies, state agencies, private research
institutions, literature
The data are chemical-specific, animal-specific.
Human health risk assessment
Air, water
Collected from various government agencies and
published literature
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the data base. The oral and inhalation references
doses are determined in a standard format for all
chemicals.
The data are updated monthly.
The data are not geographically specific.
All of the data are reviewed by work groups of scientists
and represent a consensus of all members. All of the
data can be traced to the original published article by
references included in the data base. Telephone numbers
of EPA Scientists involved in determining the reference
doses are also included.
All of the data are available by request.
The system is command-driven on a dial-up modem
system.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 643 records
Over 50 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields can be
sorted by special request.
68
-------
IRIS
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
None
TOXNET, MEDLARS
Biological
Drinking Water
Environmental effects
Exposure standards
Exposure regulations
Health effects
Modeling
Physical-Chemical properties
69
-------
IRPTC
System Name: International Register of Potentially Toxic Acronym: IRPTC
Chemicals
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Information Resources Management
Information Management and Service Division
Information Sharing Branch
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Andrew Battin
(202) 260-5109
The International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals
(IRPTC) is a program activity of the United Nations
Environment Program in Geneva. The main objective of
the IRPTC is to facilitate access to existing data on the
production, distribution, release and disposal of chemicals,
and their effects on the environment. The core activity of
the IRPTC to achieve this objective is the collection and
dissemination of data on chemicals in the form of
Chemical Data Profiles. Data profiles are integrated data
sets covering a broad spectrum of subject areas related to
hazard identification and risk assessment of chemicals.
They contain the maximum of relevant information in a
minimum of space.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
Raw material extraction, manufacture,
use/reuse/maintenance, recycle/waste management,
biological effects and toxicological effects, ecosystem
effects, chemical properties related to environmental fate
or effects, chemical modeling related to environmental fate
or effects ,
This data base is comprehensive in its scope and contains
much useful data for LCAs, however, it does not contain
any information on Pharmaceuticals or radiation. The data
are primarily chemical-specific, so facility-specific data are
limited.
70
-------
IRPTC
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Government agencies throughout the world and industry
sources.
The data are chemical-specific.
The main objective of the IRPTC is to facilitate access to
existing data on the production, distribution, release and
disposal of chemicals, and their effects on the
environment.
Air, water, land, solid waste
Collected from various government agencies and industrial
sources
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the data base, but the number of methods used for
each data point varies from source to source.
The data are updated but not at any scheduled interval
but frequently or whenever data are submitted. Data
available from the U.S. sources dates back to 1989, and
data in the Canadian/Geneva version are more recent.
The data may be sorted by country.
The data are all peer-reviewed, but this review is the
responsibility of the submitting sources.
All of the data are available by request.
The system is menu-driven on a stand-alone system.
Data are more readily obtained by request. The
distribution system of the data base is limited within the
U.S., but individual copies of the data may be obtained.
Mainframe
Approximately 40,000 records
Approximately 28 fields
71
-------
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
IRPTC
The data fields and the data within the fields can be
sorted by special request. '<
None
None
Biological
Chemical properties
Environmental effects
Environmental releases
Test/Analysis methods
Transformation rates
72
-------
"MCDB"
System Name:
Manufacturing Census Data Base
Acronym: "MCDB"
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
Plastics Technology Magazine
P.O. Box H
Yardley, PA 19067
Abby Scheiner
(800) 743-1060
This data base contains information from the plastics
industries in the areas of injection molding, extrusion, and
blow molding. The data are obtained on raw materials
used in each process, some intermediate products, and
the end product produced by each process. The data
represent single value estimates from manufacturers. The
data are continually updated through telephone interviews
on a 12 to 18 month cycle.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component:
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Inventory analysis
Raw material acquisition, manufacture,
This data base could be useful in gathering data from the
plastics market segment involving raw material acquisition
and production rates.
The data are obtained from telephone interviews with
individual plastics manufacturers involved with injection
molding, extrusion, and blow molding processes.
The data are product-specific, process-specific, industry-
specific, and processing equipment-specific.
To provide market definition for the Plastics Technology
Magazine circulation.
Land, Solid waste
Telephone interviews with individual manufacturing plants.
Telephone interviews with individual manufacturing plants.
73
-------
"MCDB"
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
The data base is updated continuously with no information
older than 18 months.
The data may be manipulated by geographic area.
The data base is not independently audited to verify the
data quality; however, the precision, representativeness,
and accuracy may be adequate for the conduct of LCAs
with sufficient traceability.
All of the data are publicly available by requests to
Plastics Technology Magazine.
The data base is command-driven, but not accessible
through a dial-up modem.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Over 12,000 records
Approximately 40 fields
The data and the data fields are sortable, with 80% of the
data available. Some information on total pounds or end
use may not be available.
None
None >
Chemical use
Geographic Codes
Raw materials
Manufacturing
Processing
Production Volume
74
-------
MINES
System Name:
MINES - DATA
Acronym: MINES
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. Bureau of Mines,
Division of Statistics and Information Services
8010 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20241
Mike McTootle
(202) 501-9524
This data base contains information related to mining and
acquisition of minerals and metals. The information
includes production rates, energy requirements, cost, and
other miscellaneous information.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component:
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Inventory analysis
Raw material acquisition
This data base could be useful in gathering data
associated with raw materials acquisition.
The data are obtained from various industries,
manufacturers, government agencies, and journals
The data are product-specific, industry-specific, and metal-
specific.
To provide information on mineral and metal production.
Air, land, water
Manufacturers data are used in this system.
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the data base
The data base is updated, but information on the
frequency and age of the data needs to be obtained from
the contact.
75
-------
MINES
Lii.
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
The data may be manipulated by geographic area.
The data base is not independently audited to verify the
data quality, however, the precision, representativeness,
and accuracy are adequate for the conduct of LCAs with
sufficient traceability.
All of the data are publicly available.
The data base is menu-driven and accessible with a dial-
up modem.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Over 10,000 records
Further information on the number of fields needs to be
obtained from the contact.
The data and the data fields are sortable with 60-65% of
the data available.
None
None
Environmental releases
Metals
Minerals
Raw materials
Point Source
Processing
Production Volume
Soils
76
-------
NATICH
System Name:
National Air Toxics Information
Clearinghouse
Acronym: NATICH
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Emissions Standard Division
Pollutant Assessment Branch
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Vasu KHaru
(919) 541-5332
The National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse
contains air toxics information gathered from
EPA/state/local agencies, international, and other Federal
agencies. Information is disseminated via the on-line,
user-friendly NATICH, through hardcopy reports, and
quarterly newsletters. The primary audience is state/local
agencies and EPA officials involved with air toxics. Data
include regulatory program information, acceptable
ambient concentrations, permitting data, ambient air
monitoring information, source test data, emissions
inventory data, research and methods development data,
preliminary EPA risk assessment results, and bibliographic
data.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category: Manufacture, background or ambient chemical
concentration data, biological effects and toxicological
effects
Comments:
This data base is considered useful for conducting LCAs,
because of the emissions and ambient air concentration
data that are provided. The data are collected from the
various states, and the states are responsible for the
quality of the data. Because regulations and procedures
vary with each state, further investigation would need to
accompany use of this data base to assure the quality and
methods used are adequate for LCAs.
77
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NATICH
sw
•i.
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
$lr
X*""" -f
"/ t 4
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data are collected from state agencies that monitor air
toxics.
The data are facility-specific, product-specific (SIC codes),
and industry-specific.
state and local air toxics program evaluation, regulations
and standards, and trend monitoring
Air
Varies from state to state, but the information submitted
by the states must meet the format of the data base.
The data collection methodology is available for review
within the data base, there are also bibliographic
references. The number of data collection methodologies
varies by state. The data are listed as single values and
are usually measured.
The system is updated annually, but varies from state to
state. The data go back to 1984, but the system has
been upgraded several times since then retaining as much
information as possible.
The data base can be sorted geographically by state,
facility, or SIC Code.
The data are not independently audited for quality,
however, the states are responsible for data quality and
the requirements vary.
All of the data are available to the public.
NATICH is a menu-driven data base that is accessible
with a dial-up modem. '-
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 5,000 records
over 100 fields
78
-------
NATICH
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
The data fields and the data within the fields are sortable
None
NTIS
Biological
Discharge points
Environmental releases
Exposure
Health effects
Monitoring
Test/Analysis methods
79
-------
ODES
' i~v~n ia TT
ilfr"
System Name: Ocean Data Evaluation System
Acronym: ODES
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA, Office of Water,'
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Bob King
(202) 260-7028
FAX (202) 260-7024
HOTLINE (206) 822-9596 (Tetra Tech, Inc.,)
HOTLINE (703) 841-6109 (American Management
Systems)
ODES was initially developed to provide managers and
analysts with marine monitoring data to assist in meeting
the 301(h) sewage discharge statutes. The system, which
was expanded to house monitoring data for both marine
and freshwater supplies, now contains information
associated with the 301 (h) sewage discharge program,
NPDES, ocean dumping, the National Estuary Program,
403c industrial discharge program, Great Lakes Remedial
Action Program, and the National Coastal Waters
Program.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
Manufacture, use/reuse/maintenance, recycle/waste
management, ecosystem effects, chemical properties
related to environmental fate or effects, chemical modeling
related to environmental fate or effects, background or
ambient chemical concentration data.
This data base is useful for conducting LCAs involving
mostly marine and estuarine environments. ODES
includes information pertaining to water quality,
oceanographic descriptions, sediment pollutants,
physical/chemical characteristics, biological
characteristics, and estuary information. This is useful for
select industries where contaminants can be traced to
products.
80
-------
ODES
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Facilities (POTWs) submit relevant information directly to
EPA
The data are facility-specific.
Environmental compliance, risk assessment, trend
assessment
Water
Facilities are required to report their compliance and
status information by the 304(1) of the Clean Water Act.
The data collection methodology is available for review
within the data base, including type and actual
measurement values.
The data base is updated biweekly and represents current
technology.
The data may be sorted by geographic location and
monitoring stations.
The data submitters have final review of data before entry
into the system. QA/QC procedures range from intense
review of data to statistical scanning depending on the
program. Users can access QA/QC reports for all data.
90% of the data fields are complete.
The data are available to the public with few access
restrictions.
The data base is menu-driven.
The data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
and is also on the EPA mainframe using dial-up modem.
Over 3 million records
Over 200 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable by
81
-------
ODES
« <& J»* ^ XMUt&s- rf. ^
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
the user or by special request.
None
None
Biological
Chemical
Compliance
Discharge points
Environmental releases
Environmental effects
Geographic codes
Point source
Sediment
Site characteristics
Surface water
82
-------
PADS
System Name:
PCB Activity Data Base
Acronym: PADS
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Toxic Substances
Chemical Regulation Branch
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Tony Baney
(202) 260-3933
FAX (202) 260-1724
PADS is a user friendly data base system, installed on
personal computers at EPA headquarters and the regions.
It allows 10 types of searches to quickly access data
regarding specific PCB waste handlers. Approximately
4,000 facilities have reported their PCB waste handling
activity to the Office of Toxic Substances using EPA Form
7710-53. The requirements for reporting under this
system were promulgated by the PCB Notification and
Manifesting for PCB Waste Activities Rule of 1989,
published in the CFR.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
Recycle/waste management
This data base is useful for conducting LCAs and includes
important information on PCB waste handling and
transportation activities. Although the information is in a
data base, it is only available to the public in hardcopy.
Various industries including generators, transporters, and
disposal facilities
The data are facility-specific.
Environmental compliance
Solid waste
83
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IT:
PADS
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Solvability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
y *
»^w™^*)*™™*
•4>-*s An&Z~<6, &
Facilities are required to report their compliance and
status information by submitting EPA Form 7710-53
required by the PCB Notification and Manifesting for PCB
Waste Activities Rule of 1989, published in the CFR.
The data collection methodology is available for review
within the data base including type and actual
measurement values.
The data base is updated weekly and represents current
technology.
The data may be sorted by up to ten different categories
including geographic.
The data are not independently audited for traceability,
quality, and precision. However, the data are current and
use single value reporting. The data fields are 100%
completed where applicable.
The data are available to the public in hard copy.
The data base is menu-driven at EPA headquarters and
regions. \
The data base operates on IBM-compatible PC
equipment.
Over 5,000 records
Over 40 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable by
the user or by special request.
None
None
Compliance
Geographic codes
Manufacturing
Transportation
84
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PCS
System Name:
Permit Compliance System
Acronym: PCS
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
U.S. EPA
Office of Water Enforcement and Permits
Enforcement Division
Compliance Information and Evaluation Branch
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Delia Ng
(202) 260-8313
FAX (202) 260-7282
Hotline (202)260-8529
PCS is a computerized management information system
for tracking permit, compliance, and enforcement status
for the NPDES program under the Clean Water Act. PCS
contains information on more than 63,000 active waste
water discharge permits issued to facilities throughout the
nation. The Office of Water Enforcement and Permits is
responsible for the operation and maintenance of PCS.
EPA Regional offices and state users are responsible for
entry and quality of the data entered into the system.
PCS tracks information about wastewater treatment
facilities discharging into navigable waters. Items tracked
include facility characteristics, discharge characteristics,
compliance schedules, permit conditions, inspections, and
enforcement actions. PCS distinguishes between major
and minor wastewater treatment facilities, based on the
potential threat to human health or the environment.
Factors determining a facilities classification status include
the discharge amount per day, the wastewater sources,
and the population affected by the discharge:
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category: Manufacture, recycle/waste management, biological
effects and toxicological effects,
85
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PCS
_,
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
This data base is useful for conducting LCAs and includes
important end-of-pipe discharge information for each
facility, but may not be useful for multi-process facilities.
Although all major and minor facilities must be permitted,
only major facilities must provide complete records to
PCS. These number around 7,100. There is substantial
information on over 56,000 minor facilities in the US. The
collection of latitude/longitude (end-of-pipe) location
information is currently under way.
Wastewater treatment facilities, state agencies and
various industries that are required to have a NPDES
permit.
i
The data are facility-specific, process-specific.
Environmental compliance, enforcement, program
evaluation, trend monitoring.
Water [
Facilities are required to report their compliance and
status information by submitting Compliance Schedule
Reports and Discharge Monitoring Reports to EPA
Regions or delegated states, which enter the information
into the system. ]
The data collection methodology is available for review
within the data base including type and actual
measurement values.
The most relevant data would be over the past three
years, with data available for the last five years. The data
base is updated twice weekly and represents current
technology.
The data maybe sorted by county, state, river basin, and
EPA Region. Efforts are currently being undertaken to
collect latitude/longitude information for the end-of-pipe
locations.
86
-------
PCS
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
The data are independently audited for traceability, quality,
and precision. The data are entered by each EPA
Region, and quality assurance activities may vary among
regions.
The data are available to the public, but must be obtained
through EPA. Private contractors or industry must request
the information through the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA). Improved public access is in progress with plans
to allow access through NTIS and NCC.
The data base is partially menu-driven with some
command driven components and is accessible with a
dial-up modem.
The data base can be downloaded from the mainframe to
IBM-compatible PC equipment.
Approximately 14,000,000 records
Approximately 160 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable by
the user or by special request.
None
Other Access:
Key Words:
None, plans are currently underway to make the data
base accessible through NTIS and NCC
Biological effects
Chemical concentration
Compliance
Discharge points
Geographic codes
Manufacturing
Monitoring
NPDES permits
Point source
Surface water
87
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PHYTOTOX
System Name: Terrestrial Plant Toxicity Data System
Acronym: PHYTOTOX
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis,
200 SW 35th Street :
Corvallis, OR 97333 \
Craig MacFarlane
(503) 754-4670
PHYTOTOX contains some 138,000 records relating to
the biological effects of the application of organic
chemicals to terrestrial plants. Both natural and synthetic
organic compounds administered to native, crop, or weed
plant species have been considered. The records in the
data base include information about the effects observed
in the experiment and bibliographic references to the
source documents from which the data were drawn.
PHYTOTOX contains data pertaining to 153 different plant
responses to 5,000 different chemicals tested on at least
one of 1,500 different plant species. Data were compiled
in the University of Oklahoma Department of Botany and
Microbiology on literature published between 1928 and
1986.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
Biological and toxicological effects
PHYTOTOX is useful for conducting impact assessments
for any product that has chemicals emitted to the
environment during its lifecycle. Plans have been made
by EPA-Duluth, EPA-Corvallis, the Office of Technology
Transfer and Regulatory Support, Office of Water, and
Office of Solid Waste and Superfund to combine three
data bases (PHYTOTOX, TERRETOX, and AQUIRE) into
a single data base called ECOTOX. A discussion of
ECOTOX is included in the section titled "On-going
Studies."
88
-------
PHYTOTOX
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortabiiity:
Published literature
The data are chemical-specific, plant species-specific.
Environmental risk assessment
Land, solid waste
Extracted from published reports plant toxicity studies.
The data base includes a description of how each
experiment was setup (stage and part of plants exposed),
but not the chemical analysis method. The test methods
vary with each study. Multiple records have been created
on some plant species and chemical exposure methods.
The data are updated periodically. The last update was in
1986, except for sulfonylurea added in 1993. The next
update is planned as part of the ECOTOX development.
The data are not sortable by specific geographic areas.
The data are from peer-reviewed published literature and
100% of the data fields are complete. No attempt has
been made to average data from several investigators on
the same species/chemical/test method combination. All
of the data are measured.
All of the data are publicly available.
Menu-driven and can be used with a dial-up modem.
Mainframe
Over 138,000 records
Over 20 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields are user-
sortable
89
-------
PHYTOTOX
!rf
* f
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
Plans have been made to combine three data bases
(PHYTOTOX, TERRETOX, 'and AQUIRE) into a single
data base called ECOTOX.' A discussion of ECOTOX is
included in the section titled "On-going Studies."
CIS, NTIS, University of Oklahoma (John Fletcher,
University of Oklahoma, Norman OK 70319)
Biological effects
Chemical toxicity
Environmental effects
Plant toxicity
Terrestrial plants
90
-------
PISCES
System Name:
Power Plant Integrated Chemical Emission
Studies
Acronym: PISCES
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
3412 Hillview Ave.
P.O. Box 10412
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Barbara Toole-O'Neil
(415) 855-1005
The PISCES data base provides an easily accessible
source of data about power generating systems. The data
include operational factors, process streams, reported
quantities, methodologies used to generate the data, and
applicable regulations and health/environmental concerns.
The data base has been qualified for accuracy, precision,
compatibility and representativeness.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Manufacture, production fabrication,, chemical properties
and modeling related to environmental fate and effects
This data base provides valuable information on power
generating systems. The data base will be available
through EPRI by the end of calendar year 1993 or early
1994. The data will be available after the user receives
permission or completes an application for access to the
information from EPRI.
Published literature
The data are facility-specific and process-specific.
To assist operators of power systems to manage chemical
substances at power generating facilities
Air, water, soil, solid waste
Published literature.
91
-------
PISCES
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
The data collection methodology is available in the data
base and though references within the data base. A
methodology table contains data, detailed descriptions of
the methods and references is included in the data base.
Many records contain multiple methods.
This data are currently being collected and the data base
is updated regularly.
E
The data are sortable by specific geographic areas.
The data are derived from peer-reviewed literature and
are independently audited for precision, accuracy, and
traceability. The data fields are 50% complete.
The data base will be available through EPRI by the end
of calendar year 1993. The data will be available after the
user receives permission or completes an application for
access to the information from EPRI.
Menu-driven available through a dial-up modem.
IBM-compatible PC :
Greater than 30,000 records
Varies with data category
The data fields and the data within the fields are sortable.
None
This data base should be available after calendar year
1993.
Key Words:
Chemical use
Environmental fate
Manufacturing
Power systems
Process streams
Regulations
92
-------
PPIS
System Name:
Pesticide Product Information System
Acronym: PPIS
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Pesticide Programs
Program Management and Support Division
Systems Branch
401 M Street, S.W.,
Washington, DC, 20460
Cheryl Bradley
(703) 305-5981
Jim Beech
(703) 305-5439
The PPIS contains information concerning all pesticide
products registered in the U.S. It includes registrant name
and address, chemical ingredients, toxicity category, brand
name, etc. Data on inert ingredients are usually
considered confidential and are not included in the data
base. Access to the data base must be approved by
OPP.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component:
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Inventory analysis
Manufacture
This data base provides valuable information on the
manufacture of pesticide products.
Pesticide industry
The data are product-specific.
Regulatory compliance
Air, water, soil, solid waste
The data are provided to OPP Information Systems
Branch by the pesticide industries.
Data Collection Methodology: The data collection methodology is available for review
93
-------
PPIS
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
The data are continually being collected and the data
base is updated regularly.
The data are not sortable by specific geographic areas.
The data are not independently audited for precision,
accuracy, and traceability, however auditing procedures
are used to ensure accurate data entry.
Most of the data are available to the public with the
exception of the data on inert ingredients.
Menu-driven available through a dial-up modem.
Mainframe and network
Approximately 2,000 records
Approximately 100 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields are limited in
their sorting capabilities.
None
CERIS system at Purdue University
Chemical use
Manufacturing
Pesticides
Physical/Chemical Properties
Processing
Product formulation
94
-------
RCRIS
System Name:
Lead Organization Name:
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Information System
Acronym: RCRIS
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
401 M Street, S.W.,
Washington, DC,.20460
Lisa Herns
(202) 260-4697
RCRIS is currently being implemented to replace the
HWDMS as the major system supporting the RCRA
Program. RCRIS accommodates new data required by
the 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
(HWSA). It provides interactive on-line data edit checking
and offers additional facilities for processing and reporting.
This systems is used to monitor hazardous waste
management activities.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Use/reuse/maintenance, recycle/waste management, and
background or ambient chemical concentration data
Compliance reporting of facility specific-data.
Required reporting under RCRA.
The data are facility-specific.
Environmental compliance and program evaluation
Air, water, soil, solid waste
Extracted from reports on events and actual data. 50% of
the data fields are complete.
Fairly standardized reporting format, but varies among
event diversity and magnitude.
95
-------
RCRIS
,
t4* 1
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
The data are continually being collected and the data
base is updated quarterly.
The data are sortable by specific geographic areas.
The data are independently audited for precision,
accuracy, and traceability.
Only a few select data categories are publicly available.
Menu-driven
Mainframe
Over 1,000,000 records
Over 50 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields are user-
sortable
HWDMS
None
Compliance
Discharge points
Environmental releases
Geographic codes
Manufacturing
Processing
Point source
96
-------
REPROTOX
System Name:
Reproductive Toxicology Data Base
Acronym:
REPROTOX
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
Reproductive Toxicology Center
Columbia Hospital for Women Medical Center
2425 L Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC, 20037-1485
Kay Padgett
(202) 293-5137
REPROTOX is an online data base that contains
information on both developmental and reproductive
toxicology in animal models and humans, and in vitro
data. REPROTOX includes comprehensive information in
textual form, with detailed descriptions of toxic effects of
up to 4,000 chemicals, drugs, and agents, including
references to primary literature.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Biological effects and toxicological effects, chemical
properties related to reproductive effects
This data base may be useful for determining biological or
reproductive effects of chemicals. The data base is
regularly updated, easily accessible, and includes
references for primary data sources.
Data are collected from government agencies and the
chemical industries.
The data are chemical-specific, some product-specific.
To provide information to public and private sector
Not applicable
Extracted from various related books, journals, and
reports.
97
-------
REPROTOX
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
Methodology included is listed in the literature references
and contains various data collection methodologies.
The data are continually being collected and the data
base is updated weekly. \
None i
The data base is checked for accuracy prior to data being
entered on-line etc., however, the data are obtained from
peer-reviewed sources and are considered to be adequate
for LCA use. The data are generally in the form of
measured values. >
All of the data are publicly available. Data sources are
also referenced in the data base.
REPROTOX is menu-driven and can be used on stand-
alone, dial-up modem systems or written requests.
i
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC
equipment, mainframe
Approximately 4,000 records
Approximately 5 fields
\
The data fields and the data within the fields are user-
sortable I
None
None
Biological effects
Exposure
Toxicological effects
Human health effects
Laboratory animals
Population, human
98
-------
RTECS
System Name:
Lead Organization Name:
Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical
Substances
Acronym: RTECS
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Center for Disease Control,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH)
Doris Sweet
(513) 533-8358
(FAX) (513) 533-8588
RTECS contains data on the toxic effects of approximately
120,000 chemicals. Each entry contains the CAS name,
registry number, synonyms, molecular formula, and one or
more toxicity measures. This chemical-specific data
source gathers its information from various peer-reviewed
journals, reports, and books.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Biological effects and toxicological effects, chemical
properties related to environmental fate or effects
This data base is useful for determining toxicity and
environmental effects of various chemicals and chemical
compounds. The data base is regularly updated and
easily accessible, but is only chemical-specific with no
geographic-specific capabilities.
Data are collected from various books, journals, and
reports on chemicals. The data are compiled by NIOSH
Chemical-specific
Congressional mandate
Air, water, land
Extracted from various related books, journals, and
reports.
99
-------
RTECS
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Methodology included in the data base. The number of
methodologies for all data categories are variable.
The data are continually being collected and the data
base is updated quarterly. The most recent update was
July 1992.
None \
The data base is not audited by a third party for data
quality, e.g., accuracy, representativeness, etc., however
the data are obtained from peer-reviewed sources and are
considered to be adequate for LCA use. The data are
generally single-value data and may have been measured
or estimated depending upon the methodology.
All of the data are publicly available. Data sources are
also referenced in the data base.
RTECS is menu-driven and can be used on stand-alone,
dial-up modem or CD-ROM systems.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 16,000 records
Approximately 20 fields
The data fields and the data within the fields are user-
sortable
None ;
DIALOG, TOXNET, CIS, CCINFOLINE, MIC/Karolinska
Institute Library and information Center
Key Words:
Biological effects
Environmental effects
Exposure
Toxicological effects
Human health effects
Physical-chemical properties
Laboratory animals
Population, human
100
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SimaPro
System Name:
SimaPro
Acronym: SimaPro
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Pre' Consultants
Center for Environmental Sciences, Leiden University
Garenmarkt Ib
P.O. Box 9518
2300 RA leiden
The Netherlands
31/(0) 71-277486
(FAX) 31/(0) 71-277496
SimaPro is a model used to perform environmental
assessments of products and packages. It contains
manufacture and production data. The data are collected
from various locations in Germany, Sweden, and the
Netherlands.
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Raw material extraction, manufacture, recycle/waste
management
The updated version of SimaPro (SimaPro 1.1) contains
more data than the previous one. The data base was
originally designed to be used with the SimaPro LCA
modeling program. Further information should also be
obtained about the modeling program to fully understand
the adequacy of the data base. The data are collected
solely from Europe and would be most applicable to
European-based LCAs, but could be used to get an
estimate of what the energy and emission data would be
like for various processes. The limited number of data
records (75) is a drawback for users in other industrial
fields. Care should be taken when this data base is used
for non-European industries.
Data are collected from chemical, mining, steel, aluminum,
plastics, glass, and paper industries; European power
plants; and various literature sources.
101
-------
SimaPro
tfT"Ti»
t
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
The data are product-specific, process-specific, industry-
specific, and facility-specific.
To aid LCI performance using the SimaPro model.
Air, water, solid waste
Collected from various industries and literature sources.
Data collection methodology is not available in the data
base. The number of methodologies for all data
categories are variable.
The data are collected continually and are updated
annually.
Limited to the country where the data were collected.
The data base is audited by a third party for data
representativeness, however, the literature data are
obtained from peer-reviewed sources. The data are
considered to be representative of those industries in
Europe that are included in the data base. The data base
was designed to be used with a LCI modeling program
with data quality in mind. The data include single-value
data, which are measured or estimated, depending upon
data collection methodology.
Only aggregated data summaries are available.
SimaPro is menu-driven and can be used on stand-alone
systems.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 75 records
Approximately 20 fields
The data fields are user-sortable however the data within
the fields are not.
None
102
-------
SimaPro
Other Access:
Key Words:
None
Environmental Releases
Manufacturing
Modelling
Processing
Transportation
Treatment/disposal
103
-------
STORET
System Name:
Storage and Retrieval of Water Quality :
Information \
Acronym: STORET
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Information Resource Management
401 M Street, SW :
Washington, DC 20460
Louie Holman ;
(202) 260-7050 ,
The STORET system assists State and EPA officials in
making pollution control decisions by providing a capability
to store, retrieve and analyze water quality information.
Current emphasis of control decisions are: issuing water
quality-based NPDES permits; inclusion of toxic pollutants
in water quality standards; evaluating water quality
impacts of control programs; and assessing levels of toxic
pollutants, including dioxin and other bioaccumulative
pollutants in the aquatic biological data, hydrologic data,
stream reach data, groundwater data, and other related
information. >
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis, impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Recycle/waste management, and background or ambient
chemical concentration data in water, fish tissue, and
sediments
STORET contains a great deal of information, however it
is not all inclusive in every geographic area. State
participation in providing data for STORET is not
mandatory.
Other government agencies, state agencies, industry
The data specificity varies depending on the type of
information needed and thus, includes facility-specific,
composite, and generic data.
Environmental monitoring and trend monitoring
104
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STORET
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
Water
The data are collected and stored by a variety of groups
using different testing methods to obtain results required
for their specific data base format
The data collection methodology is not available for
review.
The data represent current technology and are updated
weekly. Data collection began in 1960, but most of the
data were collected after 1980.
The data can be sorted by county, state, river, station,
latitude/longitude, organization and location.
The data undergo gross checks for accuracy and
determine any aberrant data. The data fields are 75%
complete. Data are collected using single values obtained
by environmental monitoring.
The majority of the data are available to the public. A
small fraction of the data are not available because of on-
going studies or confidential business information.
105
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STORET
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
SJORET is menu-driven and accessible with a dial-up
modem. Data are also available as a flat file format to
allow the user to sort in any possible manner.
PC, Network through NTIS
Over 200,000,000 \
i
Approximately 30 fields
\
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable by
the user.
i
None I
NTIS
Climate
Drinking water
Environmental effects
Geographic codes
Geographic coordinates
Groundwater
Monitoring
Soil
Surface Water
Test/analysis methods
106
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TERRETOX
System Name:
Terrestrial Wildlife Toxicity Data System
Acronym: TERRE-
TOX
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis
200 SW 35th Street
Corvallis, OR 97333
Ann Fairbrother
(503) 754-5706
TERRE-TOX is a publicly available, electronic, non-
bibliographic, data base that contains toxicity data on
terrestrial wildlife. TERRE-TOX contains published
information on the toxicity of anthropogenic substances to
terrestrial animals. The species are limited to wildlife,
bees, earthworms, and laboratory rodents where the
substance involved is likely to affect wildlife. The studies
included involve acute toxicity, behavior, reproduction,
physiological, and biochemical responses.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Biological and toxicological effects on terrestrial
vertebrates
Plans have been made by EPA-Duluth, EPA-Corvallis, the
Office of Technology Transfer and Regulatory Support,
Office of Water, and Office of Solid Waste and Superfund
to combine three data bases (PHYTOTOX, TERRE-TOX,
and Aquire) into a single data base called ECOTOX. A
discussion of ECOTOX is included in the section titled
"On-going Studies."
Published literature.
The data are chemical-specific and wildlife species-
specific.
107
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TERRETOX
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Solvability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Environmental risk assessment
Land
Extracted from published reports on wildlife toxicity
studies.
The data collection methodology is available for review.
Most of the tests follow the standard LD50 format, but
other test methodologies are also included in the data
base.
The data represent current technology and were last
updated in 1989. The next update is planned as part of
the ECOTOX development.
The data can not be sorted geographically.
The data are from peer-reviewed literature. The data
fields are 50% complete. Each data point reported
represents a single value.
Data are available to the public.
TERRE-TOX is menu-driven and accessible with a dial-up
modem.
\
Mainframe \
about 1,000 records '
Approximately 20 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable by
the user or by request. The data may also be sorted by
CAS# or species.
None
NTIS
108
-------
TERRETOX
Key Words:
Biological effects
Chemical toxicity
Environmental effects
Wildlife toxicity
Terrestrial wildlife
109
-------
TRI
System Name:
Toxic Chemical Release Inventory System Acronym: TRI
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
as. EPA
Office of Toxic Substances
Information Management Division
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Steven Newburg-Rinn (EPA users including contractors,
states, and grantees)
(202) 260-3757
(Non-EPA users should contact the National Library of
Medicine (NLM) at (301) 496-6531)
Help Center (202) 260-9419
Fax (202) 260-4655
TRI contains all non-trade secret data submitted to EPA
under SARA for over 300 toxic chemicals and chemical
categories listed by the Agency. Data include chemical
identity, amount of on-site users, releases and off-site
transfers (including POTW), on-site treatment, and
minimization/prevention actions. The data are obtained
from the Form R submissions by various manufacturers
and applicable industries.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Inventory analysis
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
Manufacture (import and production emissions),
recycle/waste management (including treatment)
The data are useful for LCA inventory analysis, but may
not be useful for multi-process facilities. The information
in the system includes the names, addresses, and public
contacts of plants manufacturing, processing, or using the
reported chemicals, the maximum amount of toxic
chemicals stored, the estimated quantity emitted into the
air, discharged into bodies of water, injected underground
or released to land, methods used in waste treatment and
their efficiency, and information on the transfer of
chemicals off-site for treatment or disposal. Although the
information is useful for LCAs, the measurement values
may be measured or estimated, with broad ranges for
110
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TRI
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
smaller manufacturers. Each data category should be
individually analyzed for usefulness in inventory analysis.
The data are required to be submitted by applicable
industries and manufacturers.
The data are facility-specific. Product- and industry-
specific information is available upon request.
Industry oversight, risk assessment,
compliance/enforcement, trend monitoring
Air, land, water, solid waste
Data are obtained from the EPA FORM R (Toxic Chemical
Release Inventory Reporting Form)
The data collection methodology is available for several
data categories. Estimated data also use prescribed
methods.
Data have been collected annually since 1987 and
represent current technology, including the waste
minimization technologies. Data are updated continually
on EPA mainframe and semiannually on NLMs TOXNET.
The data can be sorted by state, county,
latitude/longitude, facility, etc.
The data are independently audited to determine accuracy
and precision of reported information.
Data are available to the public, however, Confidential
Business Information is "sanitized" prior to release.
TRI is menu-driven and accessible with a dial-up modem.
The data are accessible through TOXNET, NTIS, GPO,
public library microfiche collections, and EPA's annual
published report (summary of data submitted.
111
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System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
TRI
T/7/s date base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
on a local area network. \
over 246,000 records \
Approximately 209 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable by
the user or by request. The NLM version has menus and
offers search (Boolean)/sori features, as well as
calculation and report generation capabilities.
None
TOXNET, NCC, NTIS, GPQ
Chemical Use
Environmental releases
Geographic codes
Groundwater
Non-point source
Point source
Soil
Surface water
Storage
112
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WATSTORE
System Name:
Water Data Storage/Retrieval System
Acronym: WATSTORE
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. Geological Survey
437 National Center
Reston, VA 22092
Tom York
(703) 648-5659
WATSTORE contains location, chemical, and flow
information on surface and groundwater to support
program staff. It is designed to help USGS decision-
makers survey, assess, and report on the status of the
Nation's waters. It includes information on streamflow for
over 30,000 sites, peak flow for 23,000 sites, chemical
analysis of surface and groundwater quality and sediment
concentration for 300,000 sites, and an inventory and
descriptive information about groundwater at 1,000,000
sites.
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component:
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Impact assessment
Background or ambient chemical concentration data
The data are useful for LCA impact assessment for
gathering data on surface or groundwater conditions and
provide a baseline lor environmental monitoring of local
water sources
Government agencies
The data are site-specific.
Trend analysis, monitoring
Water
Sampling programs
The data collection methodology is not documented in the
data base and varies for each test method. Input into the
system follows a specified format, which is available, but
113
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WATSTORE
r-j^p
ta
f ^
litlU LJiiilU!l!U!iJ!i£*L 'IBla " I „ ' Ju, ifsSSfajl .1 J*sJti>
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
Indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
data collection methods vary and are not available in the
system.
Data have been added in 1993 and represent current
technology.
The data can be sorted by state, county,
latitude/longitude, facility, etc.
The data are not independently audited to determine
accuracy and precision of reported information. Over 50%
of the data fields are complete and represent single
values. \
Data are available to the registered users.
WATSTORE is available in a menu-driven version for PC
and a command-driven version for mainframe.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC
equipment, mainframe
over 1,000,000 records
Number of fields not available
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable by
the user or by request.
None
None I
Key Words:
Geographic coordinates
Groundwater
Monitoring
Sediment
Site characteristics
Surface water
114
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WBS
System Name: EPA Section 305 (b) Waterbody System
Lead Organization Name:
Acronym: WBS
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component:
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
U.S. EPA
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Jack Clifford
(202) 260-3667
WBS contains state-reported information on the water
quality status of specific waterbodies. States input data
including causes, sources, and monitoring basis.
Impact assessment
Background or ambient chemical concentration data
Data contained in WBS lists contamination and discharges
into specific waterbodies but it does not specifically
identify the source.
State agencies
The data are chemical-specific.
Environmental assessment of waterbodies
Water
Collected from various state agencies
The data collection methodologies are available for review
in the data base, but the methods used vary from source
to source.
The data are updated biannually.
The data may be sorted by state, county, EPA ecoregion,
and latitude/longitude for lakes.
115
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mm "1 1
WBS
T* "-•»*•" •"]
I < *
indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortabiiity:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Key Words:
date are independently audited for precision and
accuracy. The data fields are 50% complete. The data
are measured single values.
All of the data are publicly available.
The system is menu-driven on a stand-alone system.
This data base operates on IBM-compatible PC equipment
Approximately 2,200,000 records
Approximately 80 fields ':
The data fields are not sortable but the data within the
fields are sortable.
None ;
None \
Biological
Discharge points
Exposure
Point source
Surface water
116
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WHOWMO
System Name: International Air Data Base
Acronym:
WHOWMO
Lead Organization Name:
Contact Person or Office:
Summary Description:
U.S. EPA
Office of Research and Development
Mail Drop 80A
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Gardner Evans
(919) 541-3887
This system is an international data base containing
ambient data from the World Health Organization (WHO)
and precipitation data from the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO)
RELEVANCE TO LCAS
Applicability to LCA Component: Impact assessment
Specific LCA Category:
Comments:
DATA DESCRIPTION
Data Source:
Data Specificity:
Data Collection Purpose:
Environmental Media:
Ecosystem Effects (acid rain, nitrates, sulphur, pH,
conductivity), background or ambient chemical
concentration data
The data are limited to precipitation chemistry data and
include information on sulfur, nitrates, and conductivity
data. Some restrictions are in place for use and
distribution of the data.
The data from the U.S. are derived from the AIRS data
base and the foreign data are from a variety of local and
national organizations.
The data are mostly generic except for some of the local
information which may be geographically specific. (See
also AIRS)
Environmental Monitoring by EPA/WHO/WMO, trend
assessment
Water, Air
117
-------
WHOWMO
How Data Are Obtained:
Data Collection Methodology:
Data Age:
Geographic Specificity:
indicators of Data Quality:
Confidentiality:
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Accessibility:
System Type:
Size of Data Base:
Number of Fields:
Data Sortability:
Related Systems:
Other Access:
Standard formats are used for data entered into the
system. Data are obtained from AIRS, and foreign local
and national data bases. •
The data collection methodology varies depending on
whether the sources are U.S. or foreign-based.
Approximately 75% of the data fields are complete.
Data have been collected since 1972. The data are
updated weekly/biweekly and represent current
technology.
The data are geographically specific and can be sorted by
a variety of location factors:
The data are independently audited to determine accuracy
and precision of reported information. Annual reviews of
data are also conducted to determine any outlying
information to be further scrutinized.
All of the U.S.-based information is available to the public,
and a majority of the foreign data are available to the
public. However, some of the foreign data may have
restricted distribution until approved by the foreign
governing entity, which may also impose publication
restrictions.
The system is command driven.
Mainframe
Several thousand
Approximately 10-20 fields
The data fields and data within the fields are sortable by
special request.
None
None
118
-------
WHOWMO
Key Words:
Air -
Climate
Geographic codes
Geographic coordinates
Monitoring
Weather
119
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CHAPTER 3
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASE SUMMARY
A total of forty bibliographic data sources were identified which may provide useful information
to the LCA practitioner. These data sources were selected by reviewing Gale's Directory of
On-line Data Bases, as well as during the process of identifying the non-bibliographic data
bases for review. Selection criteria for data bases included: availability in English, contain
primarily U.S. data, require minimal access or subscription fees, and are being updated with
regular frequency. Brief abstracts were prepared for each bibliographic data base. The
contents of each data base are summarized by keywords along with information concerning
the age of the data base, update frequency, and the availability of abstracts in Table 4.
Data sources in this section range from worldwide literature citations on the effects of acid rain
(Acid Rain) to literature citations on the manufacture of ceramics (World Ceramics Abstracts).
Data bases containing citations on energy are prominent, with 25% (10 data bases) of the
data sources containing information on some aspect of energy generation or use. The largest
of the energy-related data bases is the Energy Science & Technology data base from the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), which contains over 2.6 million literature citations to all
unclassified scientific and technical information processed by the DOE Office of Scientific and
Technical Information in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Table 4 divides energy into subcategories of
alternative energy, electric power, coal technology, and petroleum.
Data bases oriented towards toxicology are also numerous (8 data bases). The most
comprehensive of the toxicological data bases is 5009 Toxline. a data base managed by the
U.S. National Library of Medicine with over 1.6 million literature citations in areas of
toxicology, including chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, pesticides, environmental pollutants,
mutagens, and teratogens.
i
More specialized data bases are also covered in this Chapter which may provide useful
Information to the LCA practitioner. For instance, Ecomine, a data base from the French
Bureau of Geological Research and Mines, contains 18,000 worldwide literature citations on
the coal, gas, and mineral industries. The Crop Protection Chemicals Reference contains the
complete text of labeling information for approximately 600 agricultural pesticide products,
including Material Safety Data Sheets for each product. Another example of a more
120
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TABLE 4. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASES ORGANIZED BY GENERAL TOPIC3
General Topic
Acid Rain
Agricultural Chemicals
Agriculture
Agriculture
Alternative Energy
Alternative Energy
Alternative Energy
Alternative Energy
Alternative Energy
Alternative Energy
Biochemistry
Biology
Chemical Hazards
Chemical Industry
Chemical Toxicity
Chemical Toxicity
Coal Technology
Coal Waste Management
Electric Power
Electric Power
Electric Power
Electric Power
Electric Power
Electric Power
Electric Power
Environmental Pollution
Environmental Pollution
Environmental Pollution
LCA Studies
Legislation/Regulations
Legislation/Regulations
Legislation/Regulations
Page No.
123
126
123
124
129
130
130
129
131
135
133
124
125
125
126
128
125
125
127
130
130
129
128
131
135
135
126
131
142
137
132
134
Bibliographic Data Base
Acid Rain
PESTDOC
Agricola
Biological & Agricultural Index
EBI
ENERGYLINE
EST
Energy Information Data Base
Environmental Bibliography
POWER
NAPRALERT
Biological & Agricultural Index
CSNB
CIN
DSHH-HEF
EMTOX
Coal Data Base
Coal Data Base
EDF-DOC
EST
ENERGYLINE
EBI
EPD
Environmental Bibliography
POWER
Pollution Abstracts
DHSS-HEF
Enviroline
WICE
Toxic News
Food Science & Technology Abstracts
PSTA
Data Age
1984-Date
1968-Date
1970-Date
1983-Date
1919-Date
1971-Date
1974-Date
1967-Date
1973-Date
1970-Date
1975-Date
1983-Date
1981-Date
1974-Date
1984-Date
1974-Date
1978-Date
1978-Date
1972-Date
1974-Date
1971-Date
1919-Date
1972-Date
1973-Date
1970-Date
1970-Date
1984-Date
1971-Date
1993-Date
Current
1969-Date
1981-Date
Abstract
Avail.
(Y/N)
Y
N
Y/N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Update
Frequency
8x/yr
Monthly
Biweekly
Periodically
Monthly
Bimonthly
Monthly
Bimonthly
3x/yr
6x/yr
Biweekly
Monthly .
Weekly
Weekly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Bimonthly
Monthly
Periodically
Monthly
Bimonthly
3x/yr
6x/yr
Weekly
Monthly
Daily
Monthly
6x/vr
121
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General Topic
LegblMion/Rctrulations
Metal
Mining
Mining
Transportation
Transportation
Transportation
Page No.
129
126
125
140
141
141
127
131
126
132
139
140
131
133
131
137
135
126
137
128
126
132
127
131
139
130
125
125
132
Bibliographic Data Base
Energy Information Data Base
PESTDOC
CSNB
WASTEINFO
World Aluminum Abstracts
World Aluminum Abstracts
ECOMINE
Enviroline
Crop Protection Chemical Reference
IPABASE
TULSA
WASTEINFO
NTIS Bibliographic Data Base
Environmental Bibliography
TOXLINE
DHSS-HEF
TOXLINE
EMTOX
PESTDOC
Food Science & Technology Abstracts
ECOMINE
ENVIROLINE
TULSA
ENERGYLINE
CSNB
IPABASE
Data Age
1967-Date
1968-Date
1981-Date
1973-Date
1968-Date
1968-Date
1984-Date
1971-Date
Current •
1985-Date
1981-Date
1973-Date
1973-Date
1964-Date
1973-Date
1965-Date
1970-Date
1984-Date
1965-Date
1974-Date
1968-Date
1969-Date
1984-Date
1971-Date
1981-Date
1971-Date
1978-Date
1981-Date
1985-Date
1971-Date
Abstract
Avail.
(Y/N)
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N.
Y
N
Y/N
Y
Y
Y/N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Update
Frequency
Monthly
8x/yr
Monthly •
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Quarterly
Weekly
Monthly
Bimonthly
Biweekly
Bimonthly
Monthly
6x/vr
Weekly
Monthly .
Monthly
8x/yr
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Weekly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Quarterly
Biweekly
a See Section 2.1 for Description of Individual Bibliographic Data Bases. Data base acronyms are defined in Appendix A.
122
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specialized data base is Packaging Science and Technology Abstracts, which is a data base
from the International Food Information Service containing 30,000 worldwide citations on
packaging technology. To identify topic areas of interest refer to Table 4.
3.1 Bibliographic Data Sources
ACID RAIN
Reed Reference Group
Phone (908) 665-6688
800-322-5006
Content: Contains more than 4000 worldwide literature citations on the sources, effects,
monitoring, aquatic and terrestrial systems impacts, control technologies, health issues of acid
rain. Sources include journals, conference proceedings, books, and technical reports from
educational institutions, corporations, and governments.
Availability: ESA/IRS(109), DIMDI, Magnetic Tape.
AGRICOLA
U.S. National Agricultural Library
Phone: (301) 504-6813
Fax: (301) 504-7473
Content: Contains more than 2.8 million literature citations in agriculture and related areas
acquired by the National Agricultural Library (NAL) and cooperating institutions such as land
grant institutions, the NAL Food and Nutrition Information Center, and the Arid Lands
Information Center. Includes agricultural economics, agricultural production, animal sciences,
chemistry, entomology, food and human nutrition, forestry, natural resources, pesticides, plant
science, soils and fertilizers, and water resources.
Availability: BRS Information Technologies, BRS/After Dark, BRS/COLLEAGUE, Knowledge
Index, DIMDI, Life Science Network, OCLC FirstSearch Catalog, and OCLC EPIC.
123
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BIOLOGICAL & AGRICULTURAL INDEX
H.W. Wilson Company
Phone: (212) 588-8400
800-367-6770
Content: Contains more than 275,000 citations in more than 225 English-language
periodicals on biology and agriculture. Covers zoology, veterinary medicine, soil science,
plant pathology, physiology, nutrition, microbiology, marine biology, limnology, genetics and
cytology, horticulture, forestry, food science, entomology, environmental sciences, ecology,
biology, biochemistry, botany, animal husbandry, agricultural research, agricultural
engineering, agricultural economics, and agricultural chemicals.
Availability: WILSONLINE, BBS Information Technologies, OCLC EPIC (planned), OCLC
RrstSearch Catalog (planned), BBS/After Dark, BRS/COLLEAGUE, CD-ROM, Magnetic Tape.
CHEMICAL BUSINESS NEWSBASE (CBNB)
i
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Phone: 0223420066
Fax: 0223 423623
Content: Contains more than 215,000 citations to European, U.S. and Japanese chemical
industry and related agricultural, food processing, electronics, pharmaceutical, and textile
industries. Includes such topics as legal and regulatory issues, plant commissioning,
upgrading and capacity reports, chemical costs, production, and supply and demand. Sources
include 140 core European periodicals, annual reports and other company literature, press
releases, government reports, newspapers, and market research reports.
Availability: Data-Star, DIALOG, Knowledge Index, PFDS Online, Life Science Network,
ESA/1RS.
124
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CHEMICAL INDUSTRY NOTES (C1N)
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS)
Phone: (614) 447-3600
800-848-6533
Fax: (614) 447-3713
Content: Contains approximately 900,000 citations to the worldwide business literature on the
chemical industry. Topics covered include production, pricing, sales, facilities, products,
processes, corporate and government activities, and people. Sources include about 80 trade
journals, newspapers, and newsletters worldwide.
Availability: STN International, Batch Access.
CHEMICAL SAFETY NEWSBASE (CSNB)
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Phone: 0223420066
Fax: 0223423623
Content: Contains more than 27,000 worldwide citations to occupational hazards in the
chemical industry and laboratories. Covers chemical reactions, biological hazards,
transportation and storage of chemicals, waste management, legislation and standards for
industrial chemical usage. Sources include more than 250 occupational health, chemical,
biochemical, toxicological, and medical journals, books, reports, videos, and organizations.
Availability: Data-Star, DIALOG, ESA/IRS, ORBIT, STN International, Life Science Network,
Diskette, Magnetic Tape.
COAL DATA BASE
IEA Coal Research
Phone: 081-7802111
Fax: 081-8289508
125
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Content: Provides more than 180,000 worldwide literature citations on coal science and
technology including the coal industry, reserves and exploration* mining, preparation, transport
and handling, properties, processing, combustion, power generation, waste management,
environmental aspects, products, health and safety, economics, and policy and management.
Availability: BELINDIS, CAN/OLE, QL Systems Limited, CD-ROM.
CROP PROTECTION CHEMICALS REFERENCE
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Phone: (212)850-6194
Content: Contains the complete text of actual label information for approximately 600
agricultural pesticide products. Also includes Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for each
product. !
Availability: Purdue University, National Pesticide Information Retrieval System.
I
DERWENT CROP PROTECTION FILE (PESTDOC) \
Derwent Publications Ltd.
Phone: 071-2425823 \
Fax: 071-4053630 I
Content: Contains more than 230,000 worldwide journal citations on pesticides, plant
protection, agricultural chemicals, chemistry, toxicology, legislation, use in control, and
environmental effects. ;
i
Availability: ORBIT. ;
[
[
DHSS-HEF
Great Britain Department of Health
Phone 071-972-2162
126
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Content: Contains more than 26,600 literature citations relating to environmental, chemical,
toxicological, and food and nutritional issues. Covers government and regulatory authorities,
carcinogenicity and mutagenicity, chemicals in food (e.g., additives, contaminants,
preservatives), consumer products, pesticides, industrial chemicals, air and water pollution,
cosmetics, toxicology, and health consequences of smoking, radiation, and noise.
Availability: Data-Star.
ECOMINE
France Bureau de Recherches
Geologiques et Minieres (BRGM)
Phone: 38643434
Fax: 38643518
Content: Contains more than 18,000 worldwide literature citations on the coal, oil, gas, and
mineral industries covering costs, reserves, feasibility studies, production, consumption, and
import/export data on raw materials, metal and mineral market and trade data, legislation, and
the activities of mining companies.
Availability: Questel, Batch Access.
EDF-DOC
Electricite de France (EOF)
Phone: 01 47654321
Fax: 01 47653124
Content: Contains more than 400,000 citations to the technical, economic, commercial, and
social aspects of electric power generation, transportation, sale, energy sources, electric
machines, electric power stations and nuclear plants, electric transmission and distribution,
calculation and exploitation of electric networks, computer systems and equipment,
environmental protection, pollution and waste disposal, applications of lighting, heating and air
127
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conditioning, energy organization and management of the field, sources of information,
meteorology, biology, earth sciences, materials properties and testing.
Availability: ESA/IRS, Questel.
ELECTRIC POWER DATABASE (EPD)
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Phone: (415)855-2411
Fax: (415) 855-2954
Content: Contains information on more than 33,000 on-going and completed research and
development projects related to electric power generation, transmission, distribution,
hydroelectric power, fossil fuels, nuclear power, solar power, transmission, economics,
advanced power systems, and environmental assessment. Provides work description, start
and completion dates, dollars allocated, results, and project reports. Covers EPRI, U.S. and
Canadian utilities, EPRI contractors, the Canadian Electrical Association, the Central Research
Institute of the Japanese Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), and the Mexican Institute de
Investigaciones Electricas. Also includes 8000 abstracts of all EPRI technical reports.
I
Availability: DIALOG, CAN/OLE, CD-ROM.
EMTOX
Elsevier Science Publishers
Phone: 0205803911 \
Fax: 0205803222
Content: Contains approximately 375,000 worldwide literature citations from 3500 periodicals
on drug toxicity, environmental toxicology, pharmaceutical toxicology, foods, food additives
and contaminants, cosmetics, toiletries, and household products, agricultural chemicals, trace
elements, vitamins, toxins and venoms, occupational toxicology, industrial chemicals and
materials, waste materials in the air, soil and water, radionuclides, chemical teratogens,
mutagens, and carcinogens, and toxic mechanisms. .
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Availability: D1MD1 (EM). Also Online As Part Of: EMBASE.
ENERGY BIBLIOGRAPHY & INDEX (EBI)
Texas A & M University
Phone: (409) 845-5741
Content: Contains citations to Texas A&M University's non-journal energy literature covering
production, utilization, and conservation of all types of fuels (e.g., hydrogen, nuclear, synthetic,
fossil); alternative energy sources (e.g., wind, solar, geothermal, and fusion); power plants and
transmission systems; and economic, political, environmental, statistical aspects of energy-
related issues and activities, German documents from World War II on synthetic liquid fuels
manufactured from coal.
Availability: ORBIT, Petro-Link.
ENERGY INFORMATION DATABASE
International Research and Evaluation
Phone: (612) 888-9635
Fax: (612) 888-9124
Content: Contains more than 87,000 citations to energy-related publications covering solar
energy, bioconversion/biomass, ocean energy, photovoltaics, photoconversion/chemical
energy, wind energy, process heat, hybrid/total energy systems, models and simulations, and
legislation.
Availability: International Research and Evaluation (IRE).
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ENERGY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (EST1
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone: (615)576-1189
Content: Contains more than 2.6 million literature citations to all unclassified scientific and
technical information processed by the DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information in
Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Includes biomass fuels, biomedical sciences, chemistry, coal, lignite,
peat, controlled thermonuclear research, electric power engineering, energy conservation,
consumption, and utilization, energy conversion, management and storage, aquatic,
atmospheric, and terrestrial environmental studies, geosciences, geothermal energy, health
and safety, hydroenergy, instrumentation, natural gas, nuclear fuels, nuclear power plants,
nuclear reactor technology, oil shales and tar sands, petroleum, physics research, renewable
energy, solar energy, synthetic fuels, tidal power, and wind energy.
Availability: OSTI Integrated Technical Information System (ITIS), DIALOG, STN
International.
ENERGYLINE
Reed Reference Publishing Group ;
Phone: (908) 665-6688 |
800-322-5006 |
Content: Contains approximately 85,000 literature citations relating to energy issues and
problems including economics, government policy, and planning; international political and
economic issues; petroleum, natural gas, and coal resources and reserves; solar energy and
unconventional energy sources; electric, nuclear, and thermo-nuclear power; fuel production,
transport, storage, consumption, conservation, and environmental impacts.
Availability: DIALOG, ESA/IRS, ORBIT, Data-Star, CD-ROM, Magnetic Tape.
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ENVIROLINE
Reed Reference Publishing Group
Phone: (908) 665-6688
800-322-5006
Content: Contains more than 165,000 citations to the environment and the management and
use of natural resources. Major topics include air, water, and noise pollution; management of
renewable and non-renewable resources of the land and water; environmental design and
urban ecology; environmental impact of drugs, chemicals, biological, radiological
contaminants; oceans, estuaries; solid waste; and transportation.
Availability: Data-Star, DIALOG, DIMDI, ESA/IRS, ORBIT (cents/full record offline), Life
Science Network, CD-ROM, Magnetic Tape.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
International Academy at Santa Barbara
Environmental Studies Institute
Phone: (905) 965-5010
Content: Contains more than 450,000 periodic literature citations dealing with the discovery,
development, transportation, and consumption of traditional and alternative energy resources,
including laws and regulations, recycling, transportation studies; air including quality control,
emissions, thermal pollution, and climate change; energy including synthetic and fossil fuels,
nuclear and hydroelectric power, conservation, and alternative energy sources; land resources
including wildlife and wilderness preservation, soil erosion and conservation, mining and land
reclamation, and agriculture and forestry; water resources including sewage and waste,
agricultural effluents, chemical pollution, and treatment systems; and nutrition and health,
public health, and lexicological studies.
Availability: DIALOG, Life Science Network, CD-ROM.
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FOOD RA ONLINE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION (FROST!)
i
Leatherhead Food Research Association (LFRA) '
Phone: 037237676 ;
Content: Contains approximately 250,000 worldwide literature citations on food science and
technology covering food and beverages, analytical methods, quality control, manufacturing,
microbiology, food processing, health and nutrition, recipes, and,additives.
Availability: Leatherhead Food Research Association (LFRA), Information Group.
t
FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ABSTRACTS (FSTA) '.
International Food Information Service GmbH (IFIS)
Phone: 0696690070 \
i
Content: Contains more than 420,000 worldwide literature citations on food science and
technology covering composition and properties, toxicology and hygiene, engineering and
analysis, quality control and legislation, storage and packaging, economics and statistics, and
the management of food processes and plants. Commodities include beverages, fruits,
vegetables, nuts, sugars, cereals, fats and oils, dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, spices,
additives, and dietary foods. i
Availability: CAN/OLE, Data-Star, DIALOG Information Services, Inc., DIMDI, ESA/IRS,
Knowledge Index, ORBIT cents/full record offline), STN International, Life Science Network,
CD-ROM, Magnetic Tape.
IPABASE
Institute of Petroleum
Phone: 0243779777
Content: Contains more than 4000 worldwide literature citations on the scientific, technical,
and economic aspects of the petroleum, petrochemical, and related industries. Covers
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exploration, production (e.g., drilling, processing, transportation, storage), analysis and testing,
and safety and environmental issues.
Availability: ORBIT Search Service (IPAB).
NATURAL PRODUCTS ALERT (NAPRALERT)
University of Illinois at Chicago
College of Pharmacy
Phone: (312) 996-2246
Content: Contains more than 75,000 citations on the chemical constituents and
pharmacology of plant, microbial, and animal (primarily marine) extracts, and secondary
metabolites reported to be present in, or isolated from, natural sources.
Availability: University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy, Program for Collaborative
Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences (PCRPS).
NTIS BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA BASE
U.S. National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
Phone: (703) 487-4929
Fax: (703)321-8199
Content: Contains bibliographic descriptions of approximately 1.5 million unrestricted
technical reports from U.S. and non-U.S. government-sponsored research, development, and
engineering analyses. The unpublished U.S. reports are prepared by federal, state, and local
agencies and their contractors or grantees. Major areas covered include the biological and
physical sciences and engineering and business information.
Availability: BRS Information Technologies, BRS/After Dark, BRS/COLLEAGUE,
CENDOCAR, CAN/OLE, Data-Star, DIALOG, Knowledge Index, ESA/IRS (6), ORBIT, STN
International, Life Sciences Network.
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PACKAGING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ABSTRACTS (PSTA)
International Food Information Service GmbH (IFIS) ;
Phone: 0696690070
Fax: 06966900710 !
Content: Contains approximately 30,000 worldwide literature citations on packaging
technology, with special emphasis on the packaging of foodstuffs and Pharmaceuticals.
Covers aerosols, chemical products, closures, coating, cushioning materials, design, dosing,
education, economics, electro-technical products, environment filling, foods, handling, storage,
transport, labeling, law, machine parts, marketing, packaging machines, packaging materials,
pharmaceutical products, quality control, research, standards, testing, wrapping, and waste
recycling.
Availability: CAN/OLE, DIALOG, DIMDI, ESA/IRS (55: PACKABS), Magnetic Tape.
PAPERCHEM
Institute of Paper Science and Technology
Phone: (404) 853-9500 :
Fax: (404)853-9510
f
Content: Contains more than 297,000 worldwide literature citations to scientific and technical
literature and patents on theories, resources, products, and processes of the pulp, paper, and
board industries. Both manufacturing and use aspects are examined covering raw materials,
principles, processes, patents, technology, machinery and equipment, products, packaging,
graphic arts, forestry and silviculture, and the chemistry of carbohydrates, cellulose,
hemicelluloses, lignin, and wood extractives.
Availability: DIALOG
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POLLUTION ABSTRACTS
Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (CSA)
Phone: (301) 961-6750
800-843-7751
Fax: (301) 961-6720
Content: Contains more than 175,000 worldwide literature citations to the technical and non-
technical literature on pollution research, sources, and controls. Covers air, water (marine and
freshwater), land, thermal, noise, and radiological pollution, pesticides and their toxicology,
detection, monitoring, pollution analysis, mathematical models, effects of oil spills, point and
nonpoint pollution, sewage and wastewater treatment, environmental action, industrial and
municipal disposal of sludge and hazardous chemical wastes and refuse, heavy metals, and
toxicology and health.
Availability: Data-Star, DIALOG, ESA/IRS, Knowledge Index, University of Tsukuba, Science
Information Processing Center, Life Science Network, Magnetic Tape, Batch Access. Also
Online As Part Of: CSA Life Sciences Collection.
POWER
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone: (202) 586-5955
Content: Contains citations to more than 35,000 monographs, conference proceedings,
journals, audiovisual resources, and other materials in the collection of the Department of
Energy Headquarters Library emphasizing energy technologies: fossil fuels, nuclear, solar,
geothermal, electrical; energy conservation and renewable resources; physical and
environmental sciences; economics; energy and water resources; and general works on
energy. Includes items from the former Atomic Energy Commission, Energy Research and
Development Administration, and Federal Energy Administration Libraries.
Availability: ORBIT
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RAPRA ABSTRACTS |
|
Rapra Technology Ltd.
Phone: 0939250383 I
Fax: 0939251118 |
Content: Contains more than 360,000 literature citations on the rubber, plastics, and
adhesives industries including raw materials and monomers, polymers and polymerization,
adhesives, compounding ingredients, intermediate and semifinished products, processing and
treatment technology, testing, applications of polymers, toxicity reports, environmental and
industrial health hazards, and legislation and standards, company and new product
information, and industrial health and safety.
Availability: ORBIT, PFDS Online, DIALOG Information Services, Inc. (323), Data-Star
(RAPR), ESA/IRS, STN International, CD-ROM, Diskette, Magnetic Tape, Batch Access.
SILICA (SYSTEM FOR INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE INFORMATION ON CERAMICS
AND GLASS)
|
Fachinfomnationszentrum Werkstoffe e.V. (FIZ-W) ;
Phone: 030830001
Content: Contains more than 39,000 worldwide literature citations on nonmetallic inorganic
materials, including ceramics, glass refractories, and composites. Emphasis is on scientific
and technical fundamentals, laboratory and analytical methods, raw and auxiliary materials
and their processing, manufacturing processes and quality control, power economy, products
and their applications, safety, environmental protection, and recycling, energy technology, and
business management.
Availability: FIZ Technik, STN International.
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TOXIC NEWS
Capital Reports
Phone: (916) 441-4427
Fax: (916)441-4560
Content: Contains news and information covering hazardous wastes and materials, toxic
substances, and air and water quality. Includes citations, with abstracts, to relevant federal
and California state legislation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rulings, and other
state and federal agency regulations. Also includes a calendar of meetings and hearings.
Sources include the Congressional Record, Federal Register, California Regulatory Notice
Register, and other government releases and notices.
Availability: Capital Reports.
5009 TOXLINE
U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Phone: (301) 496-1131
800-638-8480
Content: Contains more than 1.6 million literature citations in areas of toxicology, including
chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, pesticides, environmental pollutants, mutagens, and
teratogens. Those files of interest to LCA practitioners include:
• CIS Abstracts (International Labour Office)—contains citations to the worldwide
literature on occupational safety and health. Covers pathology and medicine of
work in many industries and professions, education, ergonomics, statistics, and
the organization, inspection, and risks of safety systems.
• Environmental Mutagen Information Center File (EMIC)—contains references to
worldwide published literature reporting on the testing of chemicals for
genotoxicity.
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Environmental Teratology Information Center File (ETIC)—contains references
to worldwide literature dealing with the chemical and drug affects on embryology
of warm-blooded and cold blooded animals.
Epidemiology Information System (EPIDEM)—contains references to journal
articles and other published literature dealing with the distribution and health
effects of food contaminants. ;
Hazardous Materials Technical Center (HMTC)—contains citations to published
literature on the management of hazardous materials, including disposal,
storage, and transportation. Produced by the Hazardous Materials Technical
Center of the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency.
International Pharmaceutical Abstracts—contains indexes and abstracts of the
world's pharmaceutical, medical, and related journals.
NIOSH Technical Information Center Database (NIOSHTIC)—provides citations
of worldwide technical literature dealing with occupational health and safety.
Pesticides Abstracts (PESTAB)—covers published reports on the
epidemiological effects of pesticides on humans, from journals published in the
U.S. and other countries, 1967 to December 1981.
Toxic Substances Control Act Test Submissions (TSCATS)—lists chemical
substances manufactured, imported, or processed in the United States for
commercial purposes. .
Toxicity Bibliography (TOXBIB)—(a subset of the MEDLINE database). Covers
adverse effects, toxicity, poisoning, and environmental effects caused by drugs
and chemicals, as well as disease conditions induced by chemical substances
or radiation.
Toxicological Aspects of Environmental Health.
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• Toxicology Research Projects—descriptions of research projects, fiscal year the
Public Health Service, or conducted intramurally by the U.S. National Institutes
of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Mental Health in the areas of
toxicology and epidemiology. Information is obtained from the NIH, Division of
Research Grants, Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects
system (CRISP).
• Toxicology Document and Data Depository (NTIS)—contains citations, 1979 to
date, dealing with toxicology and related subjects obtained from the NTIS
database.
NOTE: A backfile, covering 1965 to 1980, is available under the name TOXLINE65.
NLM also makes available the following database: TOXLIT (Toxicology Literature from
Special Sources)—contains citations, with abstracts, to the worldwide literature on toxicology,
with an emphasis on chemicals. Includes records from Chemical Abstracts that cover
interactions of chemical substances with biological systems in vivo and in vitro.
NOTE: A backfile covering 1965 to 1980, is available under the name TOXLIT65.
Availability: BRS Information Technologies, BRS/After Dark, BRS/COLLEAGUE, Data-Star,
DIMDI, JICST Online Information System, DIALOG, MEDLARS, Life Science Network, CD-
ROM, Magnetic Tape.
TULSA
Petroleum Abstracts
Phone: (918) 631-2297
800-247-8678
Content: Contains more than 500,000 worldwide literature and patent citations, on the
exploration, development, and production of petroleum resources, particularly oil and natural
gas. Also covers the areas of geology, geophysics, geochemistry, well drilling, completion,
and servicing, well logging, production statistics, transport and storage, environmental impact,
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alternate fuels and energy sources, supplemental technology, and mineral commodities. Also
contains citations from Oil and Gas Fields Bibliography on oil and gas fields worldwide from
the early 1900s to 1965.
Availability: DIALOG, ORBIT.
WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE RECOVERY
International Research and Evaluation (IRE) i
Phone: (612) 888-9635 j
Fax: (612)888-9124 |
Content: Contains worldwide literature citations covering solid, liquid, hazardous, and nuclear
waste management, water quality, toxic substances, land reclamation, and resources
recovery. Emphasis in these areas is on air pollution, agricultural engineering, civil
engineering, food science, geology, and nuclear science.
Availability: International Research and Evaluation (IRE).
WASTEINFO
[ '
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Phone: 0235433442 j
Fax: 0235432854 i
Content: Contains more than 75,000 worldwide literature citations on non-nuclear waste
management. Covers treatment and disposal, recycling, and environmental hazards and
impact. Also covers public policy, legislation, regulations, and waste management guidelines;
nonradioactive waste management covering the handling, treatment, disposal, recycling, legal
and environmental hazard aspects; and municipal refuse, pollution, landfill issues, composting,
reclamation, sewage, metals, incineration, and toxic and industrial wastes. Includes
descriptive information on companies that provide products and services for waste
management.
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Availability: ORBIT, CD-ROM.
WATER RESOURCES ABSTRACTS (WRA)
U.S. Geological Survey
Phone: (703) 648-6820
Content: Contains more than 250,000 literature citations on the water resource-related
aspects of the physical, social and life sciences. Covers related engineering and legal
aspects of the characteristics, conservation, control, use, and management of water
resources. Also covers the nature of water and water cycles, water supply augmentation and
conservation, water quantity management and control, water quality management and
protection, water resources planning, and engineering works.
Availability: DIALOG, CD-ROM, Magnetic Tape, Batch Access.
WORLD ALUMINUM ABSTRACTS (WAA)
The Institute of Metals
Phone: 071-8394071
Fax: 071-8392289
Content: Contains more than 158,000 worldwide literature citations to aluminum literature,
including journal articles, patents, government reports, conference proceedings, dissertations,
books, and other publications. Covers aluminum industry, ores, aluminum production and
extraction, melting, casting and foundry, metalworking, fabrication, finishing, physical and
mechanical metallurgy, engineering properties and tests, quality control and tests, and end
uses.
Availability: DIALOG, ESA/IRS (9: Aluminum).
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WORLD CERAMICS ABSTRACTS
British Ceramic Research Ltd.
Phone: 078245431
Fax: 0782412331
Content: Contains about 46,000 worldwide literature citations oh ceramics covering raw
material processing, plant development, ceramic processing, and applications for high-
technology ceramics, whitewares, vitreous enamels and refractories, clay-based building
materials, glasses, and cements and mortars.
Availability: ORBIT, Magnetic Tape. ;
i
WORLD INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT (WICE)
Phone: 47-69-341900
Contents: Contains information on over 50 LCA studies including the types of products
studied, scope of the projects, functional units, system boundaries, etc. WICE worked in
cooperation with SETAC-Europe and Ecobilan to design a special reporting form that allows
data base users to assess the-usefulness of an LCA without compromising proprietary
information. The data base itself does not contain quantitative inventory-type data.
Availability: Center for Applied Research, Oestfold Norway.
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CHAPTER 4
ON-GOING STUDIES AND FOREIGN DATA BASES
Five on-going studies were identified in the United States which may contribute significantly to
the public LCA knowledge base. The American Plastics Council (ARC) is developing an LCI
data base on eight thermoplastic resins. The U.S. EPA is conducting an LCI of residential
nylon carpeting to both demonstrate the practical application of EPA's (1993a) LCI guidelines
and to develop certain aggregated information sets for inputs into other LCI studies. The U.S.
Department of Energy is sponsoring a project to prepare LCIs for 20 commodity materials.
This long-term project is scheduled for completion by 1997. The U.S. EPA is also developing
an ECOTOX data base system which will contain ecotoxicological effects information for
aquatic life, wildlife, and plants. The U.S. Bureau of Mines is preparing a series of material
flow studies for selected mineral commodities and distributes current commodity information
through its MINES FaxBack System.
A number of foreign data bases have been developed that contain manufacturing process
information and are associated with spreadsheets or other computational tools to allow the
data to be directly incorporated into an inventory or impact assessment. All of these data
bases are of Western European origin, where the application of LCA by both government and
industry has out-paced efforts in North America. The foreign data bases discussed in this
chapter are publicly available through direct purchase of hard copy printouts of the data, are
PC-accessible, or are available to users through lease arrangements.
4.1 On-going Studies
Information was obtained on four on-going studies that are expected to contain data useful for
preparing LCAs and where all or part of the results are expected to be released to the general
public.
LCI Data Modules of Eight Thermoplastics
The American Plastics Council (APC) has contracted with Chem Systems, Inc. to prepare an
LCI for each of the following eight thermoplastics: high density polyethylene (HOPE), low
density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene (PP),
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polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate polyester (PET), general purpose
polystyrene (GPPS), and high impact polystyrene (HIPS). The first phase of the project deals
only with the production of the resin from the naturally occurring raw material to the pellet
stage. A second phase will address the fabrication of the resin into end user goods.
Companies cooperating in the study will represent roughly 70 percent of production in each
resin category. The study will follow the SETAC framework and the U.S. EPA guidelines for
preparing an LCI. A peer review team has been organized to review the study scope
(boundaries and methodology), data collection and processing, and database output and
system documentation. The completed database will contain detailed information, which will
be kept strictly confidential. A detailed computer spreadsheet with the aggregated data will be
available to industry cooperators only. A more generic aggregation of the data, which has
been sanitized to preserve business sensitive data, will be made available to the public. The
study is expected to be completed in 1995. Further information'can be obtained from Ronald
F. Cascone of Chem Systems, Inc., 303 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY, 10591-5487, or by
calling 914-631-2828
LCI of Residential Nylon Carpeting :
The U.S. EPA has contracted with Battelle Columbus Operations (BCO) to prepare a full LCI
of residential nylon carpeting. The two primary objectives of this research are: (1) to
demonstrate the utility of U.S. EPA's (1993) LCI guidelines and principles manual, and (2) to
demonstrate how to better address confidentiality issues pertaining to the acquisition of high
quality, industry-average information. Secondary objectives are: (1) to produce a life-cycle
inventory of residential carpeting that can be used by the carpeting industry and by third
parties to understand the resource and energy consumption and environmental burdens of the
product category, and (2) to develop certain aggregated information sets that can serve as
preliminary reference data bases for input to other LCI studies. This LCI will be an
assessment of a typical residential carpet system. The choice of nylon carpet is based on
market share, because nylon fiber comprises 75 percent of the market for residential
applications. The scope includes the following secondary parameters, which were selected
based on sales: dye (blue color), stain-resist treatment, and anti-static treatment. The study is
expected to be completed by mid-1995. Further information can be obtained from Mary Ann
Curran, U.S. EPA, RREL, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, or by
calling 513-569-7837. 'i
I
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LCIs of Twenty Commodity Materials
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Industrial Waste Reduction Program (IWRP), has
contracted with Battelle's Pacific Northwest Laboratories (PNL) to prepare LCIs for 20
commodity materials (e.g., aluminum, glass, ethylene, natural gas). The information will be
made available in the form of a Life-cycle, Computer-Aided Database (L-CAD). L-CAD is
being designed using a modular concept that allows the system to work interactively with
multiple independent data bases developed by different organizations. A prototype (not fully
loaded with data) should be available in late winter, 1994. Project completion is scheduled for
FY96 or 97, depending on industrial participation. Further information can be obtained from
Kenneth K. Humphreys, Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box
999, Richland, WA, 99352, or by calling 509-372-4279.
ECOTOX Data Base
The Environmental Research Laboratory-Duluth (ERL-Duluth), the Environmental Research
Laboratory-Corvallis (ERL-Corvallis), and the Office of Technology Transfer and Regulatory
Support, with support from the Office of Water, Office of Solid Waste and Superfund, are
working together to develop a proposed data base called ECOTOX. The goal of the proposed
ECOTOX system is to establish a single non-bibliographic data base containing
ecotoxicological effects information for aquatic life, wildlife, and plants that will be available for
state, regional, national, and international agencies through the EPA Computing Center at
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The development of this data base will insure that
high quality and properly reviewed toxic effects data are readily available to the regulatory and
research community for use in performing ecological risk assessments. The three data bases
to be combined are AQUIRE, PHYTOTOX, and TERRE-TOX. Detailed profiles of each of
these three data bases are included in Section 2.1 of this report. Further information can be
obtained from Steven Bradbury, U.S. EPA, Environmental Research Laboratory, 6201
Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, or by calling 218-720-5527.
U.S. Bureau of Mines, MINES FaxBack System
The U.S. Bureau of Mines is preparing a series of material flow studies for selected mineral
commodities. The studies identify mineral and other material losses to the environment that
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occur throughout the life cycle of subject commodities. To date, studies have been completed
for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, manganese, mercury, salt, tungsten, and zinc.
Future studies are planned for additional commodities, including metals, glass, and fertilizer
materials. Further information on these studies can be obtained from Mr. Donald G. Rogich,
Chief, Division of Mineral Commodities, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Washington, DC 20241, or by
calling 202-501-9448.
Current commodity information distributed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, mainly through its
Mineral Industry Surveys, is available for the MINES FaxBack System. This is an automated
fax system that operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, allowing callers to retrieve
Bureau catalogs and publications to their fax machines in minutes. The system has been
operating since November 1992 and recently has been upgraded. To use the MINES
FaxBack System:
1) Use the touch-tone telephone handset attached to your fax machine, or connect one
to the fax machine's telephone jack. ISDN (digital) toUch-tone telephones cannot be
used with fax machines. '•
2) Call MINES FaxBack at 202-219-3664 ;
3) Listen to the menu options and press your selection using the touch-tone dial pad of
the telephone. ;
4) After completing your selection(s), press the START button on your fax machine to
receive the selected documents. j
i
i
If you experience any problems while trying to use the MINES FaxBack System, call 202-501-
9446 for assistance. ;
4.2 Foreign Data Bases .
The past decade has seen the development of at least nine data bases containing resource
consumption and environmental releases information organized by industrial process or
activity that potentially could be used for the preparation of LCAs. All of the data in the data
bases, with one possible exception, are of Western European origin. In most instances, these
data bases are not stand-alone entities, but rather are associated with spreadsheets or other
computational tools to allow the data to be directly incorporated into the inventory or impact
assessment. The following discussion includes data bases that are publicly available through
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direct purchase of hard copy printouts of the data or are PC accessible. The data bases are
presented in their chronological order of development. There are at least two additional data
bases that are privately developed, but available to users through licensing arrangements.
BUWAL '84 and '90
The BUWAL (Swiss Office of environmental protection) data base was originally developed in
1984 by the Swiss government to support Ecoprofile Analysis within the country. In 1990, the
Swiss Technical Institute (ETH) updated and expanded the data base. The data are available
in hardcopy and cover Western European conditions, although the power generation and
some of the waste disposal modules relate specifically to Swiss conditions. Most of the data
are associated with materials used in packaging. This data base is not part of a stand-alone
BUWAL LCA computational model, although the data are widely incorporated into other data
bases and associated models such as the SimaPro model discussed below. For additional
information contact: ETH Zentrum, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
EMPA
This data base has been developed by the Swiss Federal Laboratory for Testing and
Materials and is part of an Ecobalance computational model. In addition to containing the
energy, resource input, and environmental emissions data for a wide range of processes
studied by EMPA, there is extensive information on transportation and electricity production.
In some instances the data are derived from secondary sources. The concept of critical
volumes, i.e. the inventory loadings into a particular environmental medium divided by the
regulatory threshold limit, is embedded in the system. Most of the data pertain to Swiss
conditions, although the secondary derived data are more broadly applicable to Western
Europe. Further information may be obtained from EMPA, Unterstrasse 11, Postfach CH-
9001, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
International Database for Ecoprofile Analysis (IDEA)
The IDEA data base was developed by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
(NASA) in Laxenburg, Austria. Over the period of 1989 to 1991, data on more than 1,000 unit
processes and 1,000 products have been inserted in the data base. The primary industrial
147
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sectors covered include pulp and paper, steel, aluminum, petrochemicals, plastics, inorganic
chemicals, glass, energy conversion, transportation, and waste management. The data base
is structured in hierarchical fashion using the dBase IV software ;and is part of an overall LCI
model. In addition to the average values for basic input and output data, the data for each
unit process (Level 1 in the hierarchy) include minimum and maximum values to facilitate
uncertainty analysis. At the intermediate level, the user can develop tables which relate the
unit process level data to the product computations. While the data are primarily for Western
Europe, there are some data that are derived from U.S. sources. For example, some of the
atmospheric emissions are derived from the U.S. EPA Air Pollutant Emissions Factors (AP-
42). Further information may be obtained from IIASA, 1220 Wien, Bernoullistrasse 4/5/6/19.
SimaPro 2.0
The SimaPro data base has been developed to facilitate the conduct of Ecobalances and
particularly product improvement studies by individuals who are not LCA experts. The data
base is embedded in an LCA computational model and most of 'the data are either from
BUWAL '90 or from Dutch studies. Auxiliary data include some U.S. data from previously
published LCI studies. The data base information can be obtained without constructing a
complete LCI. The latest versions of the program have an expanded data set and more
flexible approaches to impact assessment. The program is available in two versions, the
Analyst version, which contains all of the features and is intended to be used for detailed and
complex analyses, and the Designer version which lacks some of the more extended
database management and output features.
i
i
The overall program is straightforward to use, however to accomplish this, certain simplifying
assumptions have been made in regard to the way certain processes and activities occur and
are incorporated into the model. In particular, the handling of recycling consists of only two
options - high level and low level (construction materials for example). Thus, the user cannot
couple two product systems in order to properly account for the consequences of recycling.
Addition of data into the data base is straightforward with the user being presented with an
Input form for creating new processes. The data base is being updated on a regular basis.
Further information may be obtained from Pre' Consultants, Bergstraat 6, 3811 NH
Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
148
-------
LCA Inventory Tool (LCAIT)
The LCA Inventory Tool was developed during the past two years by Chalmers IndustriTeknik
(CIT) for use by LCA specialists who want to construct very complex or specialized
inventories. Thus, it offers very flexible definitions of any aspect of a product system and
supports extensive documentation of data through text inserts in the data fields. The program
is supported with a large data base on energy, transportation, and selected materials. The
data are primarily for Swedish industry. Additional customized data bases can be compiled by
CIT. Further technical information about this data base may be obtained from CIT, S-412 88
Goteborg, Sweden and purchasing information from Pre' Consultants, Bergstraat 6, 3811 NH
Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
Product Improvement Assessment (PIA)
The Product Improvement Assessment computer program is a simple to use system expressly
developed to support improvements assessment using LCA. PIA has been developed jointly
by Toegepaste Milieu Economie (TME) and the Bureau voor Milieu en Informatica (BMI) under
the auspices of Van den Burgh en Jurgens (a Dutch Unilever subsidiary that has conducted
its own studies and contributed data to the SimaPro data base discussed above). Use of the
program is consistent with the manner in which product design and design alternatives are
identified. The program is intended for product producers, industrial designers, and technical
training institutes who are not necessarily LCA experts. The data base contains unit
operations inputs and outputs for energy, transportation, and waste management. Additional
custom data base categories can be created by TME or input by the user. Process data can
be exported to other programs. For further information contact TME, Grote Marktstraat 24, 25
11 BJ 's-Gravenhage, The Netherlands.
Boustead Data Base from the Open University of the U.K.
An LCI model with its associated data base was developed by Dr. Ian Boustead. The data
base contains information on over 2,000 unit operations. Unit operations data represent a
mixture of U.K. and general European conditions. Both PC and mainframe versions are
available. Dr. Boustead supervised the data collection for the Plastic Waste Management
Institute (PWMl) study described below and has incorporated these data into the data base.
149
-------
Lease arrangements are available through Dr. Boustead at the Open University of the U.K.,
St. James's House, 150 London Road, East Grinstead, RH 191ES, West Sussex, U.K.
Packaging Industry Research Association (PIRA)
A second U.K. data base has been developed by PIRA International and it is also associated
with a computational model. The model consists of spreadsheet software (Excell) coupled
with data derived from a study commissioned by the U.K. Government. The model can be
used to select existing studies or design a life-cycle from scratch. Standard materials covered
include virgin and recycled paper and board, a variety of polymers (HOPE, LDPE, PP, PET,
PVC, PVOH, PC), steel tinplate, glass, and aluminum. The PWMI data, discussed below, are
also included in this data base. The methodology is well explained and consistent with the
current international guidelines on LCA practice. The program is available through an annual
licensing program, however, the data are not separately licensed. For further information
contact Dr. N. Kirkpatrick, Business Manager, Environment, PIRA International at Randall
Road, Leatherhead, KT22 7RU Surrey, U.K.
Plastic Waste Management Institute (PWMI)
The PWMI has released its life-cycle data base on cradle-to-factory door information on
selected plastic resins. Data represent both European average* and depending on the
materials .or processes, specific countries. Data conform to the SETAC LCA framework
guidelines. Availability and cost in electronic form are not known but the hardcopy version is
freely available. For more details contact PWMI at Avenue E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 4, Box 5, fi-
ll 60 Brussels, Belgium.
150
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CHAPTER 5
REFERENCES
5.1 Literature Cited
Fava, J.A., F. Consoli, R. Denison, K. Dickson, T. Mohin, and B. Vigon (Eds.). 1993. A
Conceptual Framework for Life-Cycle Impact Assessment. Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and SETAC Foundation for Environmental Education, Inc.,
Pensacola, FL.
Fava, J.A., R. Denison, B. Jones, M.A. Curran, B. Vigon, S. Selke, and J. Barnum (Eds.).
1991. A Technical Framework for Life-Cycle Assessments. Society of Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and SETAC Foundation for Environmental Education, Inc.,
Pensacola, FL.
Marcaccio, K.Y. (Ed) 1993. Gale Directory of On-line Databases, Vol. 1. Gale Research Inc.,
Detroit, Ml.
U.S. EPA. 1994. Guidelines for Assessing the Quality of Life-Cycle Inventory Data. Final
Report. Prepared by Research Triangle Institute for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Solid Waste, Washington, D.C.
U.S. EPA. 1993. Life-Cycle Assessment: Inventory Guidelines and Principles. EPA/600/R-
92/245. Prepared by Battelle and Franklin Associates, Inc. for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Risk Reduction Laboratory, Office of Research and Development,
Cincinnati, OH.
U.S. EPA. 1991. Information Systems Inventory (ISI). Administration and Resources
Management, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
Vigon, B.W. and A.A. Jensen. 1992. Discussion Initiation Paper on Life-cycle Assessment
Data Quality Survey and Databases Practitioner Survey. Prepared for SETAC Life-cycle
Assessment Data Quality Workshop, October.
151
-------
5.2 Other References
This section includes other documentation provided by the contacts, which include annual
reports, data reports, and user manuals that were used for the development of the LCA data
profiles.
Burek, D.M., K.E. Koek, and A. Novallo (Eds.). 1990. Encyclopedia of Associations, Volume
I: National Organizations of the U.S., Parts 1, 2, and 3. 24th Ed. Gale Research, Inc.,
Detroit, Ml.
Russel, J.J., B.J. Downs, J.V. Steele, J. Tabler (Eds.). 1991. National Trade and
Professional Associations of the United States. 26th Ed. Columbia Books, Inc., Washington,
DC.
U.S. EPA. 1991. Access EPA. EPA/MSD-91-100. Information Access Branch, Information
and Services Division. Washington, DC I
U.S. EPA. 1991. 1987 National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report. EPA/530-SW-91-
061. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Washington, DC
U.S. EPA. 1991. Toxic Chemical Release Inventory System (TRIS) Information Retrieval
Users Guide. Office of Toxic Substances. Washington, DC :
U.S. EPA. 1990. AIRS User's Guide Volume 2: Air Quality Data Coding. National Air Data
Branch, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. Research Triangle Park, NC.
U.S. EPA. 1990. Monitoring Guidance for Municipal-Waste-Combustion-Ash Disposal,
Disposal Practices, Facilities, and Monitoring. EPA/600/X-90/267A. Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, NV. October
U.S. EPA. 1990. Monitoring Guidance for Municipal-Waste-Combustion-Ash Disposal, Data
on Individual Disposal Facilities. EPA/600/X-90/267B. Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory, Las Vegas, NV. October
152 .
-------
U.S. EPA. 1990. NATICH Data Base Report on State, Local, and EPA Air Toxics Activities.
EPA/450/3-90-012. Air Quality Planning and Standards. Research Triangle Park, NC
U.S. EPA. 1990. Office of Water Environmental and Program Information Systems
Compendium. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
U.S. EPA. 1989. AIRS User's Guide Volume 1: Introduction. National Air Data Branch,
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. Research Triangle Park, NC.
U.S. EPA. 1989. The 1985 NAPAP Emissions Inventory (Version 2): Development of the
Annual Data and Modeler' Tapes. EPA/600/7-89-012a. Air and Energy Engineering Research
Laboratory. Research Triangle Park, NC
153
-------
-------
ACRONYM3
Appendix A
List of Acronym Definitions
DEFINITION
301 (H)
304(1)
ABIPST
"ACCI"
AIRDOS
AIRS
"ALUMASSN"
APC
AQUIRE
ARIP
ASHDISPOS
ASTER
BACT
BCO
BGRM
BUS
BMI
BRS
BUWAL
CAIR
CARD
CAS
CBNB
CCID
CCRIS
CD-ROM
CENDATA
CERCLA
301 (H) Application Tracking System
304(1) Progress Tracking System
Abstract Bulletin of the Institute of Paper Science and Technology
American Coke and Coal Institute
Atmospheric Dispersion of Radionuclides
Aerometric Information Retrieval System
Aluminum Standards Data Base
American Plastics Council
Aquatic Toxicity Information Retrieval
Accidental Release Information Program
Municipal Waste Combustion-Ash Disposal Facilities Data Base
Assessment Tools for the Evaluation of Risk
Best Available Control Technology
Battelle Columbus Operations
France Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres
RACT/BACT/LAER Determinations
Bureau voor Milieu en Informatica
Biennial Reporting System
Bundesamt fur Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft (Bern, Switzerland)
Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule Data Base
CLP Analytical Results and Quality Assurance
Chemical Abstract Service
Chemical Business NewsBase
Confidential Chemicals Identification List
Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System
Compact Disc - Read Only Memory
Census Bureau Online
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
Chemical Evaluation Search and Retrieval System
CESARS
a
Acronyms in quotation marks were created for this report and were not created by the data base developers.
A-1
-------
CFR
CHEM-INTELL
CHEMD
CHIEF
CIC1S
GIN
CIS
C1T
CR1EPI
CSA
CSNB
CTCP
CURE
CUS
DATAPAK
DC1/CRMS
DERMAL
"DSOSS"
EBI
ECOTOX
EDB
EOF
EFDB
EFG
EMPA
EPACAP
EPD
EPR1
ERL
EST
ETH
EXEC/OP
Congressional Federal Register
Chemical Intelligence Services
OTS Chemical Directory
Clearinghouse for Inventories/Emission Factors
Chemicals in Commerce Information System
Chemical Industry Notes
Chemical Information System, Inc.
Chalmers IndustriTecknik
Japanese Electric Power Industry
Cambridge Scientific Abstracts
Chemical Safety NewsBase
Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products
Chemical Unit Record Estimates Data Base
Chemical Update System
Utility Data Institute Datapak :
Chemical Review Management System
Dermal Absorption
Data Base and Systems for Optimal Solvent Selection
Energy Bibliography and Index
A data base proposed by EPA to combine AQUIRE, TERRE-TOX, and
PHYTO-TOX
Environmental Data Base
Electricite e France :
Environmental Fate Data Bases
Effluent Guidelines Studies
Eidgenossiche Materialprufungs- und Forschiungsanstalt
Capacity Assurance Database
Electric Power Data Base
Electric Power Research Institute
Environmental Research Laboratory (for U.S. EPA)
Energy Science and Technology
Eidgenossiche Technische Hochschule
Synthesis of Wastewater Treatment Systems
Hazardous Waste Export Data Base
EXPORT
Acronyms In quotation marks were created for this report and were not created by the data base developers.
A-2
-------
FATES
FFARS
FOIA
"FOSUNITPER"
FROSTI
"FROZFD"
FSTA
FY
GENE-TOX
GPO
GPPS
GRA&I
"GTOM/YR"
HOPE
HIPS
HMIS
HSDB
HSWA
HWDMS
IDEA
IFIS
IRIS
IRPTC
ISDB
LAER
LCA
LOAD
LCAIT
LCI
LDPE
LFRA
LLDPE
"MCDB"
FIFRA and TSCA Tracking System
.Fuel and Fuel Additives Registration System
Freedom of Information Act
Fossil Fuel Power Unit Performance Data Base
Food RA On-Line Scientific and Technical Information
American Frozen Food Institute
Food Science and Technology Abstracts
Fiscal Year
Genetic Toxicity
Government Printing Office
General Purpose Polystyrene
Government Reports Announcements and Index
U.S. Gas Turbine O&M Data Base
High Density Polyethylene
High Impact Polystyrene
Hazardous Materials Identification System
Hazardous Substance Data Bank
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984
Hazardous Waste Data Management System (now known as RCRIS)
International Data Base for Ecoprofile Analysis
International Food Information Service GmbH
Integrated Risk Information System
International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals
Industry Studies Data Base
Lowest Achievable Emission Rate
Life-Cycle Assessment
Life-Cycle, Computer-Aided Data Base
LCA Inventory Tool
Life-Cycle Inventory
Low Density Polyethylene
Leatherhead Food Research Association
Linear Low Density Polyethylene
Manufacturing Census Data Base
Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Clearinghouse
MEDLARS
a
Acronyms in quotation marks were created for this report and were not created by the data base developers.
A-3
-------
MINES
MSDS
NAL
NAPALERT
NAPAP
NATION
NCC
NIOSH
NLM
NPDES
NTIS
"NUCUNITPER"
"NUPPDB"
NURF
ODES
ORALTOX
PADS
PC
PCRPS
PCS
PDMS
PESTDOC
PET
PHYTOTOX
PIA
PIRA
PIRANHA
PISCES
PLASPEC
PNL
POTW
PP
"PPEUCUDi"
a
Mines Data Base ;
Material Safety Data Sheet
National Agricultural Library
Natural Products Alert
1985 National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program Emission Inventory
National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse
National Computer Center
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
National Library of Medicine
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Laboratory Performance
Evaluation
National Technical Information Service ;
Nuclear Power Unit Performance Data Base
Non-Utility Power Plant Data Base
1985 National Utility Reference File
Ocean Data Evaluation System
Acute Oral Toxicity
PCB Activity Data Base :
Polycarbonate
Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences
Permit Compliance System
Pesticide Document Management System ,
DERWeNT Crop Protection File
Polyethylene Terephthalate Polyester
Terrestrial Plant Toxicity Data System
Product Improvement Assessment
Packaging Industry Research Association
Pesticide and Industrial Chemical Risk Analysis and Hazard Assessment
Power Plant Integrated Chemical Emission Studies
Plaspec Materials Selection Data Base •
Pacific Northwest Laboratories (Battelle)
Publicly-Owned Treatment-Works :
Polypropylene
European Community Power Plant Data Base
Acronyms In quotation marks were created for this report and were not created by the data base developers.
A-4
-------
PPIS
"PPJAP"
PSTA
PVC
PVOH
PWMI
RACT
RBLC
RCRA
RCRIS
RECYCLELINE
REPROTOX
RRELTDB
RTECS
SAGE
SARA
SETAC
SIC
SimaPro
SSTS
STORET
TERRE-TOX
TME
TOXLINE
TOXNET
TRI
TSCATS
TSDF
TSDR
U.K.
U.S. DOE
U.S. EPA
VOC
Pesticide Product Information System
Japanese Power Plant Data Base
Packaging Science and Technology Abstracts
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl alcohol
Plastic Waste Management Institute
Reasonable Available Control Technology
RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Docket Information System
RecycleLine
Reproductive Toxicology Data Base
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory Treatability Data Base
Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances
Solvent Alternatives Guide
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Standard Industrial Classification
SimaPro
Section Seven Tracking
Storage and Retrieval of Water Quality Information
Terrestrial Wildlife Toxicity Data System
Toegepaste Milieu Economie
Toxicology Information On-Line
Toxicology Data Network
Toxic Chemical Release Inventory System
Toxic Substances Control Act Test Submissions
Air Emissions from TSD Facilities for Hazardous Waste
Treatment, Storage, Disposal, and Recycling Data Base
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Volatile Organic Chemical
Water Data Storage/Retrieval System
WATSTORE
a
Acronyms in quotation marks were created for this report and were not created by the data base developers.
A-5
-------
WBS EPA Section 305 (b) Waterbody System
WHOWMO International Air Data Base
WICE World Information Committee on Environment
Acronyms In quotation marks were created for this report and were not created by the data base developers.
A-6
-------
Appendix B
Methods
B.1 Screening of Non-bibliographic Data Bases
A two-stage screening process (initial and secondary ) was used to evaluate non-bibliographic
data bases. Only data bases that were expected to contain potentially useful information for
conducting life-cycle inventory analysis or impact assessment of products underwent in-depth
analysis. Figures B-1 and B-2 provide the list of screening questions.
B.1.1 Initial Screening
Eighty-five data bases were initially screened to determine which contained data potentially
useful for conducting life-cycle inventory analyses or impact assessments. Less attention was
given to data bases still in preparation, e.g., those under development or in the initial data
collection/reporting phases. The initial screening criteria were based on:
• Applicability of the data for use in inventory analysis
• Applicability of the data for use in impact analysis
• Level of data availability to the public
• Probable ease of use
• Assessment of data quality for accuracy, completeness, etc.
Each data base was scored based on answers to a series of seven questions (see Figure 1).
A "YES" answer was given one point and a "NO" answer was given zero points. The minimal
criteria to advance to the second screening was a score of 4 or greater (57%). Data bases
that did not have a "YES" response to question 1 or 2, plus a "YES" response to question 3
did not undergo secondary screening.
B-1
-------
LCA DATA BASE SCREENING CRITERIA
INITIAL SCREENING
1. Does the data base contain any information useful in conducting life-cycle
inventories? (e.g., raw material acquisition, manufacturing, use/reuse/maintenance,
recycle/waste management) i
2. Does the data base contain any information useful in conducting impact
assessments? (e.g., biological and toxicological effects, ecological effects,
chemical properties or chemical modeling, resource depletion, background or
ambient chemical concentrations)
3. Are the data at least partially available to the public? (e.g., all the data are
publicly available, only selected data categories are available, or only aggregated
data summaries are available) '.
i
4. Is the data base menu-driven?
5. Are the data fields sortable?
6. Are the data within the fields sortable?
7. Are the data independently audited data quality?
(e.g., precision, accuracy, traceability) ;
i
YES = 1, NO = 0 ;
Figure B-1 Initial Screening Criteria
B-2
-------
LCA DATA BASE SCREENING CRITERIA
SECONDARY SCREENING
8. Are the data collection methodologies available for review?
9. Is there only one data collection method used for a single data category?
(e.g., pH of water samples determined by one of the following methods: glass
electrode, titration, or test strip)
10. Do the data represent current technology?
(e.g., use of lasers for welding rather than arc welding)
11. Is the data base currently being updated?
12. Are more than 50% of the data fields complete?
13. Can the data be sorted by specific geographic areas?
14. Do the individual data points represent a single value (or an average of repeated
measurements for a single data point) rather than a range of values?
15. Can the data base be used on a PC?
16. Are the data used in this system contained within the
system? (e.g., no other data bases are necessary for use of
the system)
YES = 1, NO = 0
Figure B-2 Secondary Screening Criteria
B-3
-------
B.1.2 Secondary Screening
The final analysis (initial and secondary screening combined) was conducted on those data
bases that passed the initial screening. The criteria for the secondary screening were based
on:
• Availability and consistency of the data collection methodology
• Representativeness of current technology
• Data age
• Data completeness
• Geographic specificity
• Data measurement parameters
• Data accessibility.
Each data base was scored based on answers to the combined set of questions from the
initial and secondary screening stages (see Figure 2). The questions for both stages were
thoroughly discussed with the data base contact, to ensure he fully understood the purpose of
the question and its applicability to LCAs. A "YES" answer was; given one point and a "NO"
answer was given zero points. '
A total score was computed for both screening stages for all data bases that passed the initial
screening. The total score provides an indication of the potential adequacy of each data base
for conducting LCAs. After the total score was computed, eachi data base was re-evaluated to
determine if further followup calls were necessary to clarify some answers to any screening
questions. The scores were then recomputed to determine the 'final result. An annotated data
base profile was prepared for 39 of the data bases receiving a combined score of at least 12
points (75%) (see Section 2.2.3). Tables B-1, B-2, and B-3 provide results of the screening
process.
B-4
-------
B.1.3 Data Profiles
Additional questions and comments were pursued to obtain information on data bases that
were not useful as criteria for scoring, but were considered valuable for the beginning LCA
practitioner to gauge the adequacy of the data base. The additional questions were also used
to ensure that the data base contact fully understood the criteria questions and its applicability
to LCAs. The additional questions included but were not limited to:
• General data base description
• Whether the data base contained life-cycle inventory input or output data
• The data source (chemical industry, mining industry, steel industry, etc)
• Whether the data were product-specific, process-specific, industry-specific, facility-
specific, composite, or generic
• The intended purpose of the data base (e.g., regulatory compliance, environmental
monitoring, or industrial trend information)
• The applicable environmental media (e.g., air, water, soil, or solid waste)
• Identification of possible indicators of data quality.
• The approximate number of records contained in the data base
• The approximate number of data fields contained in the data base
The approximate percentage of complete data fields
• Accessibility through other means such as clearinghouses.
• Any additional comments
After compiling the information on the available data and data bases, an annotated data
profile for each qualifying data base was prepared. The profiles are listed alphabettically in
Section 2.0.
B.2 Data Base Clearinghouses
Several data base clearinghouses are available both through Federal government agencies
and commercial means. These clearinghouses allow for on-line retrieval of many different
data bases, bibliographies, and other forms of information. Several of these clearinghouses
were searched to determine if there were other databases that could be identified for use in
conducting life-cycle inventory analyses or impact assessment of products. Those data bases
B-5
-------
identified through a clearinghouse were examined in the same manner as other data bases in
previous screenings. Summaries of the bibliographic data bases are provided in Section 3.0
B.3 Bibliographic Data Sources
Bibliographic data sources were identified during the process of identifying the non-
bibliographic data bases and by consulting Gale's Directory of Online Data Bases and other
readily accessible resources. The data bases were screened toTetain those bibliographic
data bases that are in English, contained primarily US data, required minimal access or
subscription fees, and are updated with regular frequency. Several primary and secondary
keywords were identified for each data base and a brief abstract was prepared. Summaries of
each bibliographic data base clearinghouse are provided in Section 2.2.
B.4 On-Going Studies
Information about on-going studies was obtained through interactions with LCA practitioners,
national/international organizations, and newsletters (e.g., SETAC workshops and annual
meetings). Section 4.1 contains the on-going data base summaries.
B.5 Foreign Data Bases
A number of foreign data bases were identified and screened for their potential use in LCA
preparation. Those deemed most useful were explored further to gather background
information as to the compiler, specific content, data format, and method of access. Section
4.2 contains the foreign data base summaries.
B-6
-------
Table B-1 Data Bases That Qualified for Profiles
|||||CRQNYM[ 4 >."V
304(1)
AIRS
AQUIRE
ARIP
ASHDISPOS
BUS
BRS
CAIR
CCRIS
CESARS
CHEM-INTELL
CUS
•DSOSS"
EDB
EFDB
EFG
"GTOM/YR-
HSDB
IRIS
IRPTC
"MCDB"
MINES
NATICH
ODES
PADS
PCS
PHYTOTOX
PISCES
PPIS
RCRIS
REPROTOX
RTECS
SIMAPRO
STORET
TERRE-TOX
TRI
WATSTORE
WBS
WHOWMO
Subtotal
oil
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
27
*
-------
Table B-2 Data Bases That Did Not Meet the Minimum Profiling Score
ACRONVM
CHIEF
CICIS
CTCP
DATAPAK
DERMAL
GENE-TOX
HMIS
LCAIT
NAPAP
•NUCUNITPER"
NURF
ORALTOX
RECYCLELINE
-TSCATS-
SAGE
SSTS
•FOSUNITPER"
SUBTOTAL
01
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
10
02
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
- "1 ••--
1
0
0
10
03
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
-- 1
1
1
1
•(7
04
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
7
06
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
16
06
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
12
Q7
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
1 -
1
0
0
g
OS
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
5
09
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
_-0
0
0
0
3
010
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
1 -
1
1
1
13
011
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
- 1
1
1
1
11
012
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
16
013
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
0 - -
0
1
1
8
014
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
9
015
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1 -
1
0
1
13
016
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
-1 - -
1
1
1
17
TOT
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
g
10
9
g
11
,9 -
11
11
10
CD
00
-------
Table B-3 Data Bases That Did Not Pass Stage One
;K-«A^ONY«Wl^$i
301 (H)
"ACCI"
AIRDOS
"ALUMASSN"
ASTER
CARD
CCID
CENDATA
CHEMD
CURE
DCI/CRMS
EPACAP
EXEC/OP
EXPORT
FFARS
FATES
•FROZFD"
HWDMS
ISDB
NPDES
"NUPPDB"
PDMS
PIRANHA
PLASPEC
"PPJAP"
•PPEUCUDI'
RRELTDB
TSDF
TSDR
TOTAL
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
14
^pl^lfs^v
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
15
&«***
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
20
;l^f
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
24
:.r
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Appendix C
LCA Data Base User Response Form
This document provides an overview of potential sources of publicly available LCA data.
However, because many of these data bases have not been tested in LCA application, the of
the data base for application to LCA is somewhat uncertain. Practitioners may need to review
a number of different data bases to identify which would be most useful for their purposes. To
better identify the usefulness of data bases for specific LCA applications, an LCA data base
user response form is provided in Appendix C of this document. The intent of this form is to
provide a mechanism for gathering useful information on the applicability of specific data
bases to LCA. Practitioners are encouraged to copy this form as needed and use it to
evaluate data bases after review or use, so that the information can be compiled and
disseminated.
C-1
-------
LCA DATA BASE USER RESPONSE FORM
Date:
Name of data base:_
Lead organization^
Contact:
Data retrieved for use:
Data actually used in the LCA / How applied:.
Would you recommend this data for consideration and use by other LCA practitioners (please
circle):
1 2
Not Recommended
Highly Recommended
(Optional Information)
Name of data base user.
Organization:
Address:
Phone/fax number
Reason for using data base:_
C-2
-------
Attn: LCA Data Base
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
HC5306W
40! H Street, SW
Washington, DC 20440
C-3
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