Getting Started
Getting Started
VII
TCO Development Unit
S-114 94 Stockholm
Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email (Internet): [email protected]
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 that 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 colourgenerating
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 organisms
** Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-accumulative
