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 elevant 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 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 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.
FCC Statement Warning
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
. Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturers may void the user's authority to operate this
equipment.
NOTE
A shielded-type signal cord is required in order to meet the FCC emission limits and also to prevent interference to the radio and
television reception. It is essential that only the supplied signal cord be used.
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