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the presence and use of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame retardants,
CFCs(freons)and chlorinated solvents, among other things. The product must be prepared
for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged to have an environmental policy which must
be adhered to in each country where the company implements its operational policy.
The energy requirements include a demand that the computer and/or display, 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 computer shall be reasonable for the
user.
Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product.
The complete environmental criteria document may be ordered from:
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 labelled 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* 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 the labelled unit. There is however
one exception. Mercury is, for the time being, permitted in the back light system of flat panel
monitors as today there 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. 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.