Environmental and human health impact of recycle concrete powder: an emergy-based LCA approach
The construction sector extensively utilizes natural resources and energy, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Concrete production, in particular, contributes notably to environmental pollution. This study investigates the environmental and human health impact of concrete p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1505312/full |
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| author | Aneel Manan Zhang Pu Mohanad Muayad Sabri Wael Alattyih Jawad Ahmad Abdullah Alzlfawi |
| author_facet | Aneel Manan Zhang Pu Mohanad Muayad Sabri Wael Alattyih Jawad Ahmad Abdullah Alzlfawi |
| author_sort | Aneel Manan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The construction sector extensively utilizes natural resources and energy, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Concrete production, in particular, contributes notably to environmental pollution. This study investigates the environmental and human health impact of concrete production, focusing on parameters such as Portland Cement, organic chemicals, diesel, medium voltage electricity, crushed gravel, natural gas heat, lubricating oil, sand and tap water. It also evaluates the impact of replacing cement with recycled concrete powder (RCP) using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach through OpenLCA 2.1 software and the Ecoinvent database. Four concrete mixes were assessed with recycled concrete powder substitution ratios of 0, 5%, 10%, and 15%. Key indicators analyzed include climate change, human toxicity, ionising radiation, ozone depletion, photochemical oxidant formation, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. Results show that cement is the most environmentally harmful ingredient, while RCP substitution reduces environmental impacts and resource depletion. Notably, the analysis indicates that higher RCP content leads to reduce environmental impacts. Specifically, the mix containing 15% RCP showed substantial improvements, lowering ozone depletion impacts from 100% to 90% and photochemical oxidant formation from 100% to 92%. These findings provide valuable insights for construction industry stakeholders and policymakers, supporting the advancement of more sustainable construction practices. Future research should focus on optimizing RCP content, long-term performance, and techno-economic feasibility to enhance sustainable construction practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a4d92488be1342798e4339058e51662b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-a4d92488be1342798e4339058e51662b2025-01-10T16:42:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-01-011210.3389/fenvs.2024.15053121505312Environmental and human health impact of recycle concrete powder: an emergy-based LCA approachAneel Manan0Zhang Pu1Mohanad Muayad Sabri2Wael Alattyih3Jawad Ahmad4Abdullah Alzlfawi5School of Civil Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaMoscow Automobile and Road Construction State Technical University (MADI), Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi ArabiaSchool of Civil Engineering, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, PakistanDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi ArabiaThe construction sector extensively utilizes natural resources and energy, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Concrete production, in particular, contributes notably to environmental pollution. This study investigates the environmental and human health impact of concrete production, focusing on parameters such as Portland Cement, organic chemicals, diesel, medium voltage electricity, crushed gravel, natural gas heat, lubricating oil, sand and tap water. It also evaluates the impact of replacing cement with recycled concrete powder (RCP) using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach through OpenLCA 2.1 software and the Ecoinvent database. Four concrete mixes were assessed with recycled concrete powder substitution ratios of 0, 5%, 10%, and 15%. Key indicators analyzed include climate change, human toxicity, ionising radiation, ozone depletion, photochemical oxidant formation, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. Results show that cement is the most environmentally harmful ingredient, while RCP substitution reduces environmental impacts and resource depletion. Notably, the analysis indicates that higher RCP content leads to reduce environmental impacts. Specifically, the mix containing 15% RCP showed substantial improvements, lowering ozone depletion impacts from 100% to 90% and photochemical oxidant formation from 100% to 92%. These findings provide valuable insights for construction industry stakeholders and policymakers, supporting the advancement of more sustainable construction practices. Future research should focus on optimizing RCP content, long-term performance, and techno-economic feasibility to enhance sustainable construction practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1505312/fulllife cycle assessmentsustainabilityhuman health impactrecycle concrete powderconcrete |
| spellingShingle | Aneel Manan Zhang Pu Mohanad Muayad Sabri Wael Alattyih Jawad Ahmad Abdullah Alzlfawi Environmental and human health impact of recycle concrete powder: an emergy-based LCA approach Frontiers in Environmental Science life cycle assessment sustainability human health impact recycle concrete powder concrete |
| title | Environmental and human health impact of recycle concrete powder: an emergy-based LCA approach |
| title_full | Environmental and human health impact of recycle concrete powder: an emergy-based LCA approach |
| title_fullStr | Environmental and human health impact of recycle concrete powder: an emergy-based LCA approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental and human health impact of recycle concrete powder: an emergy-based LCA approach |
| title_short | Environmental and human health impact of recycle concrete powder: an emergy-based LCA approach |
| title_sort | environmental and human health impact of recycle concrete powder an emergy based lca approach |
| topic | life cycle assessment sustainability human health impact recycle concrete powder concrete |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1505312/full |
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