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- Risk assessment of reusing treated water from the Viseu Sul WWTP for irrigation and similar usesPublication . Santos, Lenise; Ferreira, José; Silva, Maria; Simões, Luis; Ferreira, Miguel; Brás, IsabelDue to the growing water scarcity, the reuse of treated wastewater arises as a possibility for sustainable water management. However, it is necessary to evaluate the possible risks associated with its activity. This study aims to develop a risk assessment of water for reuse, in terms of public health and water resources, for production and internal use by the Viseu Sul Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and external use in irrigation of green spaces in Viseu. The methodology used was a semi-quantitative risk assessment. The results demonstrated the viability of the production and use of Reused Water by the Viseu Sul WWTP, with an overall risk to public health of 0.68, and for use in irrigating green spaces in Viseu, with an overall risk of 0.75. The overall risk to water resources was 2.33 for nitrogen and phosphorus and 0.78 for E. coli. All risks were considered insignificant, considering the criteria defined by the method. Based on the information presented, it can be inferred that the use of treated wastewater to meet Viseu's water needs is a viable option.
- Environmental Assessment of Pig Manure Treatment Systems through Life Cycle Assessment: A Mini-ReviewPublication . Ferreira, José; Santos, Lenise; Ferreira, Miguel; Ferreira, António; Domingos, IdalinaThe primary aim of this research was to evaluate and compare the environmental impacts, throughout the life cycle, of the main treatment systems employed by the industry, as well as to identify the processes that contribute most to these environmental impacts. To achieve this, a bibliographical search was conducted using theWeb of Science Core Collection database platform, utilizing the keywords “life cycle assessment”, “pig”, “treatment”, and “manure” or “slurry”. The search was restricted to publications from the last five years (2019–2023), resulting in a total of 66 publications that were then analyzed according to the functional unit (FU) adopted. For the 10 publications whose FUs were expressed in tons or cubic meters of treated manure, a descriptive and quantitative analysis was carried out. It was found that anaerobic digestion has been the most widely used treatment technology for pig manure over the past five years, according to the LCA methodology. These systems, configured as biogas and biofertilizer production facilities, have proven to be environmentally friendly and could play a crucial role in the energy transition and decarbonization of the energy matrix.
- Life Cycle Assessment of Green Space Irrigation Using Treated Wastewater: A Case StudyPublication . Santos, Lenise; Brás, Isabel; Ferreira, Miguel; Domingos, Idalina; Ferreira, JoséWater scarcity is a pressing issue that makes it essential to manage this resource efficiently and sustainably. One solution to combat this issue is the use of treated wastewater (TWW) to irrigate green spaces in cities. However, it is crucial to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with this practice. To this end, life cycle assessment (LCA) is the most advanced tool available. The objective of this study was to assess the environmental implications of usingTWWfor lawn irrigation in the city of Viseu. The ReCiPe 2016 method, supported by SimaPro software, was employed for life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). An attributional approach was used, and the system boundaries were expanded to include the non-discharge of TWW into the receiving environment, the avoided consumption of domestic water, and the avoided consumption of chemical fertilizers. The results revealed that using TWW for lawn irrigation is preferable in terms of human health and ecosystem damage but unfavorable in terms of resource damage. When considering the impact of water consumption on human health and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, it is recommended to use treated wastewater for lawn irrigation.
- Life Cycle Assessment of Pig Production in Central Portugal: Environmental Impacts and Sustainability ChallengesPublication . Leite dos Santos, Lenise Maria; Domingos Ferreira, Miguel; Domingos, idalina; Oliveira Verónica; Rodrigues Carla; Ferreira António; Ferreira, José; MDPIPig farming plays a crucial socioeconomic role in the European Union, which is one of the largest pork exporters in the world. In Portugal, pig farming plays a key role in regional development and the national economy. To ensure future sustainability and minimize environmental impacts, it is essential to identify the most deleterious pig production activities. This study carried out a life cycle assessment (LCA) of pig production using a conventional system in central Portugal to identify the unitary processes with the greatest environmental impact problems. LCA followed the ISO 14040/14044 standards, covering the entire production cycle, from feed manufacturing to waste management, using 1 kg of live pig weight as the functional unit. The slurry produced is used as fertilizer in agriculture, replacing synthetic chemical fertilizers. Results show that feed production, raising piglets, and fattening pigs are the most impactful phases of the pig production cycle. Fodder production is the stage with the greatest impact, accounting for approximately 60% to 70% of the impact in the categories analyzed in most cases. The environmental categories with the highest impacts were freshwater ecotoxicity, human carcinogenic toxicity, and marine ecotoxicity; the most significant impacts were observed for human health, with an estimated effect of around 0.00045 habitants equivalent (Hab.eq) after normalization. The use of more sustainable ingredients and the optimization of feed efficiency are effective strategies for promoting sustainability in the pig farming sector.
- Risk Assessment for Water Reuse in Irrigating Green Areas on a University CampusPublication . Leite dos Santos, Lenise Maria; Ferreira, José; Ferreira Silva, Maria Elisabete; Lopes Brás, Isabel Paula; Berardi, U.; António, J.; SimõesThe increasing scarcity of water resources, exacerbated by climate change, calls for more sustainable and innovative approaches to water management. This study examines the feasibility and benefits of using Water for Reuse (WfR) for irrigation at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu campus in Portugal. By using WfR, the university aims to reduce its reliance on potable water, promote sustainability, and enhance the resilience of its landscape management practices. However, assessing potential risks is crucial. Risks associated with the WfR from the Viseu Sul Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) for green space irrigation on campus were evaluated, focusing on public health and water resource impacts. A semi-quantitative risk assessment methodology was applied, analysing microbiological, chemical, and physical parameters to ensure the treated water meets safety standards for its intended use. Three receptor groups were considered: maintenance workers, students/faculty, and visitors. Results showed the feasibility of producing and using WfR for irrigation, with the overall risk being below 3, considered negligible. The global public health risk was 0.72, with maintenance workers having the highest individual risk (0.75). The global risk for water resources was 2.30 for nitrogen and phosphorus, and 0.8 for microbiological risks. All risks were considered insignificant, making the use of WfR a viable and safe solution for sustainable water management.
- Environmental and Economic Assessment of Desktop vs. Laptop Computers: A Life Cycle ApproachPublication . Domingos Ferreira, Miguel; Domingos, idalina; Leite dos Santos, Lenise Maria; Barreto Ana; Ferreira, JoséThis study evaluates and compares the environmental and economic implications of desktop and laptop computer systems throughout their life cycles using screening life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) methodologies. The functional unit was defined as the use of one computer system for fundamental home and small-business productivity tasks for over four years. The analysis considered the production, use, and end-of-life phases. The results showed the desktop system had a higher overall carbon footprint (679.1 kg CO2eq) compared to the laptop (286.1 kg CO2eq). For both systems, manufacturing contributed the largest share of the emissions, followed by use. Desktops exhibited significantly higher use phase emissions, due to greater energy consumption. Life cycle cost analysis revealed that laptops had slightly lower total costs (EUR 593.88) than desktops (EUR 608.40) over the 4-year period, despite higher initial investment costs. Sensitivity analysis examining different geographical scenarios highlighted the importance of considering regional factors in the LCA. Manufacturer-provided data generally showed lower carbon footprint values than the modeled scenarios. This study emphasizes the need for updated life cycle inventory data and energy efficiency improvements to reduce the environmental impacts of computer systems. Overall, laptops demonstrated environmental and economic advantages over desktops in the defined usage cases.
- LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PIG PRODUCTION: A CASE STUDYPublication . Ferreira, José; Leite dos Santos, Lenise Maria; Domingos Ferreira, Miguel; OLIVEIRA VERONICA; RODRIGUES CARLA; FERREIRA ANTONIO; Domingos, idalina; IRAJPig farming plays a crucial socioeconomic role in the European Union (EU), with Germany, France, and Spain leading pork production. In Portugal, pig farming is vital for regional development and national economy. To ensure future sustainability, it is essential to identify the pig production activities that have the most significant environmental impacts. This study carried out a Life Cycle Assessment (cradle-to-gate) of pig production using a conventional system in central Portugal to identify the phases with the greatest environmental impact. LCA followed the ISO 14040/14044 standards, covering the production cycle, using 1 kg of live pig weight as a functional unit. The analyzed scenario encompasses everything from the production and growth of piglets to the pig fattening phase, including the formulation of specific feed for each stage of development, transport of inputs, use of diesel to generate electricity in the facilities, and management of pig manure. The results highlight feed production and piglet management as the most important steps. The study highlights the importance of sustainable practices in order to mitigate environmental issues such as human carcinogenic toxicity and the ecotoxicity of freshwater and marine water, emphasizing the need for improved strategies in pig farming.