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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.
CN912B-2/LCD1810X/78135322 00.5.26, 0:03 PM13