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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 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 fetus 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 color-generating layers of certain computer
displays. Cadmium damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO'99
requirement states that batteries, the color-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. 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.
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 boards. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere,
causing increased reception on earth of ultraviolet light with increased risks e.g. skin cancer
(malignant melanoma) as a consequence.
Lead**
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