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
The relevant TCO’99 requirement states that batteries, the
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. 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 labeled 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.
CFCs (freons)
The relevant TCO’99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the manufacture and assembly of the product or in its packaging. 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. This restriction assures that further damage to the ozone layer form this type of equipment will be eliminated.
**Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are bio-accumulative.
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