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TCO Development
SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden
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
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 spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a computer casing can
consist of flame retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or chloride, and those flame
retardants are chemically related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs. Both the flame retard-
ants 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 * proc-
esses. Flame retardants have been found in human blood and researchers fear that disturbances in
foetus development may occur. The relevant TCO´95 and TCO'99 demand require that plastic compo-
nents 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 nervous system and is toxic in high doses.
TCO'95 requirement states that batteries may not contain more than 25 ppm (parts per million) of cad-
mium. The colour-generating layers of display screens must not contain any cadmium.
The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries, the colour-generating layers of display screens
and the electrical or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
Mercury **
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. It damages the nervous system and is
toxic in high doses.
TCO'95 requirement states that batteries may not contain more than 25 ppm (parts per million) of mer-
cury. The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries may not contain any mercury.
Both TCO´95 and TCO´99 also demand 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.
CFCs (freons)
The relevant TCO'95 and TCO'99 requirement state 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 boards. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere, causing
increased reception on earth of ultraviolet light with e.g. increased risks of skin cancer (malignant
melanoma) as a consequence.
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'95 and TCO´99 requirement permit
the inclusion 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.
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