14
Regulatory Information cont.
EPA POLLUTION PREVENTER
As an ENERGY STAR Partner LG
Electronics U. S. A.,Inc. has
determined that this product meets the
ENERGY STAR guidelines for
energy efficiency.
Below 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
SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email (Internet): [email protected]
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 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
colour-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 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. 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 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 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’99 requirement permits 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.
EPA
(U.S.A only)
E
NERGY
S
ATR
is a set of power-saving guidelines
issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency(EPA).
NOM MARK
(Mexico only)
