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Appendix
VII
On this page, you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product. The complete
environmental criteria document may be ordered from:
TCO Development Unit
S-114 94 Stockholm
Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email (Internet): development@tco.se
Current information regarding TCO’95 approved and labelled products may also be obtained via the Internet, using
the address:
http://www.tco-info.com/
TCO’95 is a co-operative project between TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees),
Naturskyddsforeningen (The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) and NUTEK (The National Board for Industrial and
Technical Development in Sweden).
Environmental Requirements
Brominated flame retardants
Brominated flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. In turn, they delay the
spread of fire. Up to thirty percent of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame retardant substances. These are
related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs, which are suspected to give rise to similar harm, including
reproductive damage in fisheating 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.
TCO’95 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams must not contain organically bound chlorine
and bromine.
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.
TCO’95 requirement permits the inclusion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colourgenerating 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 cadmium. The colour-
generating layers of display screens must not contain any cadmium.
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. Mercury 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 mercury. It also demands
that no mercury is present in any of the electrical or electronics components concerned with the display unit.
CFCs (freons)
CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed circuit boards and in the manufacturing of expanded foam for
packaging. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere, causing increased reception on
Earth of ultraviolet light with consequent increased risks of skin cancer (malignant melanoma).
The relevant TCO’95 requirement: Neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the manufacturing of the product or its
packaging.
* Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within living organisms
** Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-accumulative.