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Environmental requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. Their
purpose is to prevent, or at least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a computer
casing can consist of flame retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or
chloride, and those flame retardants are chemically related to another group of environmental
toxins, PCBs. Both the flame retardants containing bromine or chloride and the PCBs are
suspected of giving rise to severe health effects, including reproductive damage in fish-eating birds
and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative
human blood and researchers fear that disturbances in foetus development may occur.
The relevant TCO'99 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams must
not contain flame retardants with organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are
allowed in the printed circuit boards since no substitutes are available.
2
Cadmium
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating layers of certain
computer monitors. Cadmium damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant
TCO'99 requirement states that batteries, the colour-generating layers of monitor screens and the
electrical or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
3
Mercury
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. It damages the nervous system and is
toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries may not contain any
mercury. It also demands that mercury is not present in any of the electrical or electronics
components associated with the labelled unit.
CFCs (freons)
The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the
manufacture and assembly of the product. CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed
circuit boards. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere,
causing increased reception on earth of ultraviolet light with e.g. increased risks of skin cancer
(malignant melanoma) as a consequence.
4
Lead
Lead can be found in picture tubes, monitor screens, solders and capacitors. Lead damages the
nervous system and in higher doses, causes lead poisoning. The relevant TCO´99 requirement
permits the inclusion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.
1.
Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accommodate within living organisms.
2.
Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-accumulative
18.1-inch LCD-kleurenscherm, gebruikershandleiding
TCO 99 - Ecology Energy Emissions Ergonomics
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processes. Flame retardants have been found in
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