TCO Development
SE- 114 94 S tock holm , S weden
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
Flam e retard ants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. Their purpose
is to p revent, or at least to del ay th e spre ad of fir e. Up to 3 0% of th e p lastic in a co mpute r casi ng can
consi st o f fl ame ret ardan t s ubs tance s. Most fla me r eta rdan ts conta in bro mine or c hlo ride, an d th ose f lam e
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 d amages th e nervous system and is to xic in high dose s. The rele vant TCO'99
requirement states that batteries, the colour-generating layers of display screens and the electrical or
electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
Merc u ry * *
Mercury is sometim es found in batteries, rela ys and switc hes. It damages the nervous syst em 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 pa nel monitors as today there i s no com mercially availab le alternative. TC O 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
board s. C FCs bre ak down ozo ne a nd t her eby d ama ge t he o zon e lay er i n th e s trat osphe re, ca usin g
increa se d re cepti on on e arth of ultr avi ole t ligh t wi th e.g. inc reas ed risks of skin ca ncer (m alig nant
melanoma) as a consequence.
Lead**
Lead c an be fo und in pict ure tube s, disp lay scr eens , so lde rs a nd ca pac ito rs. L ead dam age s th e ne rvou s
system and in higher doses, causes lead poi soning. The re levant TCO'99 r equirement permits the
inclus ion of lead sinc e no r eplac em ent has y et been deve lop ed.
* Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within living organisms.
** Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-accumulative.
TCO'03-Ecological requirements for pe rsonal computers (TCO'03 applied model onl y)
Congratulations!
The display you have just pur chased carries the TCO'03 D isplays label. Th is means t hat your display is
desi gned , ma nufa ctu red a nd t est ed a cco rdi ng to som e of the str icte st q ual ity and envi ron men tal
requirements in the world. This makes for a high performance product, designed with the user in focus that
also minimizes the impact on our natural environment.
Some of the features of the TCO'03 Display requirements:
Ergonomics
Good visual ergonomics and image quality in order to improve the working environment for the user and to