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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 labeled
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 bio-accumulative
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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
color-generating layers of certain computer displays. Cadmium
damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant
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Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within living
organisms