TCO Development

Below you will find a brief summary of the ecological requirements met by this product. The complete ecological criteria document can be found at TCO Development’s website http://www.tcodevelopment.com or may be ordered from:

SE-114 94 STOCKHOLM, Sweden Fax: +46 8 782 92 07

E-mail: development@tco.se

Information regarding TCO’99 approved and labelled products may also be obtained at http://www.tcodevelopment.com

Ecological requirements

Flame retardants

Flame retardants may be present in printed wiring board laminates, cables, and housings. Their purpose is to prevent or, at least, delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% of the weight of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame retardant substances. Many flame retardants contain bromine or chlorine, and these flame retardants are chemically related to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Flame retardants containing bromine or chlorine and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to health effects, including reproductive damage in fisheating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes when these are not disposed of in accordance with the strict standards for disposal.

TCO’99 requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams shall not contain flame retardants with organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are allowed in the printed wiring board laminates due to the lack of commercially available alternatives, except for two types of brominated flame retardants (PBB and PBDE), which are not allowed in the product at all.

Cadmium**

Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating layers of certain computer displays.

TCO’99 requires that the product including batteries shall not contain any cadmium.

Mercury**

Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. TCO’99 requires that the product including batteries shall not contain any mercury. There is, however, one exception. Mercury is, for the time being, permitted in the back light system of flat panel monitors as there is currently no commercially available alternative. TCO aims to remove this exception when a mercury free alternative is available.

Lead**

Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and capacitors. TCO’99 requires that the product including batteries shall not contain any lead.

Hexavalent chromium**

Hexavalent chromium is sometimes used as surface treatment. TCO’99 requires that the product shall not contain any hexavalent chromium.

*Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate in living organisms. **Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are bio-accumulative.

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