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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.
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. 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 labeled unit. There is
however one exception. Mercury is, for the time being, permitted in the back light system of flat
panel monitors as there today is no commercially available alternative. TCO aims on removing
this exception when a mercury free alternative is available.
CFCs (freons)
The relevant TCO’99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the
manufacture and assembly of the product or in its packaging. 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. This
restriction assures that further damage to the ozone layer form this type of equipment will be
eliminated.
**Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are bio-accumulative.
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