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
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 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.
*
Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within living
organisms
