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The requirements cover a wide range of issues: environment, ergonomics, usability, emission of
electrical and magnetic fields, energy consumption and electrical and fire safety.
The environmental demands concern among other things restrictions on the presence and use of
heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, CFCs (freons), and chlorinated
solvents. The product must be prepared for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged to have an
environmental plan, which must be adhered to in each country where the company conducts its
operations policy. The energy requirements include a demand that the monitor 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 monitor 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, along with physical and visual ergonomics and good
usability.
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.
z 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.
z
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.
z 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.
z 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).
z The relevant TCO'95 requirement: Neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the
manufacturing of the product or its packaging.
TCO'99-Ecological requirements for personal computers (TCO applied model only)
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