George Barjoveanu

Environmental impact and risk quantification based on selected water quality indicators

Environmental assessments are often approached in an integrated manner, taking into consideration the decision-making processes, the stakeholders’ roles and the preservation of environmental components and human health. An environmental impact and risk assessment (EIRA) methodology could respond to the new challenges in water resources management such as those related to industrial/agricultural development and urbanization. Romania is a country that still faces problems in terms of integrated water resources management implementation, due to some industrial/agricultural activities that exceed water quality discharge limits and the influence of diffuse pollution sources over surface waters. This study presents the development and implementation of a methodology for the quantitative assessment of environmental impact and associated risk of the economic activities from four counties from the northeastern part of Romania (Botosani, Iasi, Vaslui and Galati counties) within the Prut river catchment. This methodology was developed for river basin evaluations by using representative quality indicators for the case of surface water pollution, i.e. biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), ammonia (NH4+) and detergents, with reference to the maximum concentrations allowed by the national standards. The monthly water samples from 112 wastewater discharging agents (industry, agriculture, wastewater treatment plants, and small and medium enterprises) were analyzed, and the yearly average values of these five indicators were considered in the integrated assessment procedure. The results revealed that there are consistent environmental impacts and risks within Prut river basin, these being mainly produced by industry. The integrated impact and risk assessment methodology presents the advantages of rapidity and the potential for improving the decision-making process.

Life Cycle Assessment of the Romanian Electricity Mix: Impacts, Trends and Challenges

Considering the recent pressures in the energy sector at global level, in close relation with the conventional fuel availability, climate change, public interest and the overall debate for more sustainable energy sources, there is an acute need for instruments, capable to identify and measure in a coherent framework how various changes in the energetic systems lead to progress/challenges, in terms of environmental impacts and sustainability. In this context, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a standardized methodology, capable of analysing complex systems, as well as to identify and quantify various environmental impacts of products for their entire life cycles. The main objectives of this study are to perform a life cycle evaluation of the Romanian energy sector for electricity production, in order to identify, quantify and update the associated environmental impacts and to investigate the sustainability of future scenarios. The LCA is focused onto 1 kWh of electricity produced in Romania, considering the indigenous resources mix: coal and gas-fired power plants, hydropower, wind turbines, nuclear power, solar panels and biomass, as well as imports and exports. The assessment is based on the ReCiPe impact assessment methodology, which enables the use of 18 environmental impact categories. By applying the LCA methodology, the Romanian energy mix environmental impact profiles can be compared for 4 years: 1990 (reference year), 1997, 2010 and 2015. Furthermore, the 2030 and 2050 scenarios were analysed. The results show how the changes in the electricity production mix have positive changes in the environmental profile.