[[alternative]]Assessing Environmental Impact of Products by Applying Ecological Footprints Theory--Establishment of the Conversion Framework for PollutionFramework for Pollution

[[abstract]] 近年來，生態足跡(Ecological Footprints, EF)概念被廣泛地運用於評估國家與區域性之永續性，並透過反轉環境涵容能力概念，直接以土地面積方式呈現對環境污染的程度，可直接有效地分析與量化人類活動與消費所造成之環境衝擊，例如：能源使用、交通、農業及自然資源等方面。然而，目前生態足跡的研究鮮少有特別針對污染層面並建置其轉換機制，大都僅著重於能資源消費過程所產生的生態足跡，此將無法呈現產品或服務對生態影響的全貌，也使得生態足跡的應用受到限制。為此，本研究將透過生態足跡理論建置污染生態足跡之轉換機制，利用生態承載力和植物淨化理論計算不同污染種類之生態足跡，包括：臭氧層破壞物質、重金屬、致癌物質、夏季煙霧、冬季煙霧、殺蟲劑、溫室效應、酸化與優養化。 本研究以鉛酸電池作為污染生態足跡換算案例之產品，並以某公司每年生產480萬個鉛酸電池作為功能單位，經試算後得出各衝擊類別之污染足跡如下：臭氧層破壞物質 1.70E-04 公頃-年、重金屬 8.36E-04公頃-年、致癌物質1.24E-04公頃-年、夏季煙霧5.02E-03公頃-年、冬季煙霧 9.62E-01公頃-年、殺蟲劑 0公頃-年、溫室效應氣體1.59E+02公頃-年、酸化 3.57E+01公頃-年、優養化 3.30E-03公頃-年。亦即算出該公司每年生產鉛酸電池的總污染生態足跡為195公頃。未來，若能建立一個包含所有環境衝擊之生態足跡的轉換資料庫，將會大大地增加生態足跡在產品面的分析與應用。[[abstract]] Ecological footprints (EF) concept has been widely used in assessing sustainability of national and regional levels. Through reversing the concept of carrying capacity, it can effectively analyze and quantify the impacts of human activities and consumptio, such as energy usage, transportation and agriculture to natural resources, and expressed them as land areas. However, very few studies were focused on establishing the conversion for pollution to EFs, which is a very important consideration for analyzing sustainability. In order to extend the applications and utilization of EF concept, this gap has to be mended. This study intends to establish a pollution EF conversion framework by using ecological footprint theory. Both carrying capacity and vegetation absorption capability theories were adopted to determine the EFs of different pollution categories. Pollutants converted in this study include ozone layer depletion substances, heavy metals, carcinogens, summer smogs, winter smogs, pesticides, greenhouse gases, and pollutants for acidification and eutrophication. A company, yearly production of 4.8 million lead acid batteries, was used as a case study to calculate and demonstrate the life cycle pollution of EFs of lead acid batteries, they are: ozone layer depletion substances 1.70E-04 ha/y, heavy metals 8.36E-04 ha/y, carcinogens 1.24E-04 ha/y, summer smog 5.02E-03 ha/y, winter smog 9.62E-01 ha/y, pesticides 0 ha/y, greenhouse gases 1.59E+02 ha/y, acidification 3.57E+01 ha/y, and eutrophication 3.30E-03 ha/y. In term of EFs, the total impact of the case company equates 195 hectares ever year. It is believed that EFs assessment for products will be greatly enhanced after a complete conversion database, including all the environmental impacts, is established