The EPS 2000d impact assessment method is the default impact assessment method in the EPS system. It is developed to be used for supporting choice between two product concepts. Category indicators are chosen for this purpose, i.e., they are suitable for assigning values to impact categories. Category indicators are chosen to represent actual environmental impacts on any or several of five safeguard subjects: human health, ecosystem production capacity, biodiversity, abiotic resources and recreational and cultural values. The characterization factor is the sum of a number of pathway-specific characterization factors describing the average change in category indicator units per unit of an emission, e.g. kg decrease of fish growth per kg emitted SO2. An estimate is made of the standard deviation in the characterization factors due to real variations depending on emission location etc. and model uncertainty. This means that characterization factors are only available, where there are known and likely effects. Characterization factors are given for emissions defined by their, location, size and temporal occurrence. Most factors are for global conditions 1990 and represents average emission rates. This means that many toxic substances, which mostly are present in trace amounts, have a low average impact. Weighting factors for the category indicators are determined according to people's willingness to pay to avoid one category indicator unit of change in the safe guard subjects.
Key Contact: Bengt Steen - email: Bengt.steen@esa.chalmers.se