Filter
Top Products
SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email (Internet): development@tco.se
Current information regarding TCO'99 approved and labelled products may also be obtained via the Internet,
using the address: www.tcodevelopment.com
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* processes. Flame retardants have been
found in 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.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating layers of certain computer displays.
Cadmium damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses.
The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries, the colour-generating layers of display screens and the
electrical or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
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.