Filter
Top Products
User’s Manual
Information
What does labelling involve?
(
continue
)
TCO Development Unit 1996-11-29
On the page this folder you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product.
The complere environmental criteria document may be ordered from:
TCO Development Unit
S-11494 Stockholm
Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
E-mail (Internet): development@tco.se
Current information regarding TCO'95-approved and labelled products may also be obtained via the Internet,
using the address:
http://www.tco-info.com/
TCO'95 is a co-operative project between(3 logos)
Environmental Requirements
Brominated flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. In
turn, they delay the spread of fire. Up to thirty percent of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame
retardant substances. These are related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs, which are
suspected to give rise to similar harm, 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. TCO'95 demand requires that plastic components
weighing more than 25 grams must not contain organically bound chlorine and bromine.
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. TCO'95 requirement Permits the inclusion of lead since
no replacement has yet been developed.
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. TCO'95 requirement states that
batteries may not contain more than 25 ppm (parts per million) of cadmium. The colour-generating layers of
display screens must not contain any cadmium.
Mercury
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. Mercury damages the nervous system and is
toxic in high doses. TCO'95 requirement states that batteries may not contain more than 25 ppm (parts per
million) of mercury. It also demands that no mercury is present in any of the electrical or electronics
components concerned with the display unit.
CFCs (freons)
CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed circuit boards and in the manufacturing of expanded
foam for packaging. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere,
causing increased reception on Earth of ultraviolet light with consequent increased risks of skin cancer
(malignant melanoma).
.
The relevant TCO'95 requirement: Neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the
manufacturing of the product or its packaging.
Regulatory