TCO Development, Ecological requirements

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:

TCO Development

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 to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% by 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). Both the flame retardants containing bromine or chlorine and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to health effects, including reproductive damage in fish- eating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes when not disposed of in accordance with 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.

Cadmium**

Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating layers of certain computer displays. TCO’99 requires that batteries, the colour-generating layers of display screens, and the electrical or electronics components shall not contain any cadmium.

Mercury**

Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. TCO’99 requires that batteries shall 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 there today is no commercially available alternative. TCO aims on removing this exception when a mercury free alternative is available.

Lead**

Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and capacitors. TCO’99 permits the use of lead due to the lack of commercially available alternatives, but in future requirements TCO Development aims at restricting the use of lead.

*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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