Eutrophication potential

Jinhui Zhou

Chapter 73 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 274-277 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Eutrophication that is induced by excessive nitrogen and phosphorus has caused harmful algal blooms (HABs) in environments. HAB is a severe threat to ecosystem health since it can lead to hypoxia in aquatic environments. To preserve the ecosystem from eutrophication-induced deterioration, life cycle assessment (LCA) approaches were used to assess the environmental impact of nutrient emissions from the entire life of nutrient-related products and processes. Current approaches were developed unevenly among terrestrial, freshwater, and marine realms and do not include the impact on social and economic systems. The life cycle impact assessment approaches should evolve to evaluate more diverse aspects of ecosystem health to include the influence on species and ecosystem functioning. Understanding the impact of eutrophication on social and economic systems is challenging but essential for disentangling cause-and-effect relationships, alongside its environmental effects.

Keywords: Ecosystem health; Environmental impact; Eutrophication; Life cycle assessment; Nitrogen; Phosphorus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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