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.
