Sony Corporation Printed in Thailand
The environmental demands impose restrictions on the presence
and use of heavy metals, br ominated and chlorinated fl ame
retardants, CFCs (freons) and chlorinated solvents, among other
things. The product must be prepared for recycling and the
manufac tu rer is oblige d to ha v e an environment al po lic y whic h
must be ad hered to in each country where the company
implements its operational policy.
The energy requirements include a demand that the computer and/
or display, after a certain period of inactivity, shall reduce its
power consumption to a lower level in one or more stages. The
length of time to reactivate the computer shall be reasonable for
the user.
Labelled products must meet strict environmental demands, for
example, in resp ect of the red uctio n of el ectric and mag ne tic
fields , physical and visual ergonomics and good usabilit y.
Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental
requirements met by this product. The complete environmental
criter ia document may be ordered from:
TCO Development
SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email (Internet ): dev elo p men t@tco.se
Current information regarding TCO’99 approved and labelled
products may al so be obtained via th e Internet, using the
address: http://www.tco-in fo. com /

xEnvironmental 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 s pread of fire. U p to 30% of the plastic in a computer
casing can consist of flame retardant substances. Most flame
retardants contain br omine or chloride, and t hose flame retardant s
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 t o severe health effe cts,
including reproductive damage in fish-eating birds a nd 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 nervo us sy stem and is toxic in high doses. The
relevan t TC O’99 requirement states that batteries, the co lo ur-
gene rating layers of display screens and the el ectrical or
electronics c omponents must not co ntain any cadmium.

Mercury**

Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays an d switches. I t
damages the nervo us sy stem 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 elect rical or electro ni cs component s associated with the
labelled unit.

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 boar ds. CFCs break down ozone and th ereby damage the
ozone l ayer in the stratosp here, causing in creased recepti on on
earth of ultr aviolet light with e.g . increased risks of skin can cer
(malignant melanoma) as a conse quence.

Lead**

Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and
capacitors. Lead damages the nervous system and in higher doses,
causes lead poisoning. The relevant TCO’99 requirement permits
the incl usion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.
* Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate
within living organisms.
** Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-
accumulative.
01GB01COV AEP.book
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