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D–2 Reference Guide
TCO‘99 Requirements
The energy requirements include a demand that the computer and/or display, after a certain
period of inactivity, shall reduce its power consumption to a lower level in one or more
stages. The length of time to reactivate the computer shall be reasonable for the user.
Labelled products must meet strict environmental demands, for example, in respect of the
reduction of electric and magnetic fields, physical and visual ergonomics and good usability.
Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product.
The complete environmental criteria document may be ordered from:
TCO Development
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:
http://www.tco-info.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 bioaccumulative 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.
✎
Bioaccumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within living
organisms.
Cadmium
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the color-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 color-generating layers of display
screens and the electrical or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
✎
Cadmium is a heavy metal that is Bioaccumulative.