Filter
Top Products
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 labeled unit.
CFCs ( freons )
The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor HCFCs may 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.
Lead**
Lead can be found in picture tubes, display 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.
18
* Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within living organisms.
** Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-accumulative.